The contribution of skills to the effectiveness of dialectical behavioral therapy.

Objective: The present study investigated the effectiveness of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and the effect of improvement in DBT skills on clinical outcomes.

Method: Participants included 57 adults who attended a community mental health service and underwent one of two modes of DBT. Twenty-six adults had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and participated in comprehensive DBT (DBT-C; including group skills training, individual therapy, and phone coaching).