Who drops out of DBT — and who improves?

Following 85 people through a DBT program, personality dimensions predicted both improvement and dropout better than symptoms alone.

Borderline Personality Disorder is difficult to treat, and many people drop out of therapy early. This study followed 85 people in a DBT program and found that looking at personality dimensions—not just symptoms—helps explain who improves and who struggles. Most participants showed emotional and interpersonal improvement after 10 weeks, but those with very high negative emotions or psychotic‑like traits improved less, and those with high negative affectivity or anankastia were more likely to drop out. Personality functioning changed the most, suggesting it may be a strong marker of progress. Overall, dimensional personality assessments may help personalize treatment and reduce dropout.