College Students Who Self-Harm

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Study Aims/Objectives: This projects' Primary Aim is development of a Condensed DBT Stepped Care Model tailored to the unique requirements of students meeting sub-clinical diagnostic criteria for BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) with its associated high rate of self-harm and suicide.

Detailed Description
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Study Aims/Objectives: This projects' Primary Aim is development of a Condensed DBT Stepped Care Model tailored to the unique requirements of students meeting sub-clinical diagnostic criteria for BPD with its associated high rate of self-harm and suicide. The investigator previously implemented a 4-mth condensed-DBT regimen with success in an adult clinical population. This study will evaluate an intensive 8 week intervention formulated for students to reduce the high prevalence of self-harm and dysfunctional behavior in this population and reduce the need for extended treatment in later years. It will include rigorous screening for collateral disorders, including Substance Use Disorders exacerbating BPD symptoms and suicide risk.

Official Title
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College Students Who Self-Harm: An Intervention Study

Conditions
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Borderline Personality Disorder, Suicide

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Informational sessions describing BPD characteristics
* Behavioral: Condensed-DBT treatment intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 to 27 Currently enrolled in college Meet at least 4 of 9 Criteria of BPD (DSM-V) with one criterion being self-harm (e.g. cut, burn, or hit self) Exclusion Criteria: have a current major psychiatric disorder diagnosis, or other gross cognitive impairment (as identified in the phone screen or the SCID I measure) or have undergone DBT or are suicidal and require full DBT and/or hospitalization or are currently in any other individual or group therapy unable to attend weekly visits over 8 weeks, starting March 24, 2014

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 27 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Sham Comparator: Informational Sessions<br>Control intervention consists of informational sessions describing BPD characteristics/ treatment and time- / stress-management skills | Behavioral: Informational sessions describing BPD characteristics<br>* Control intervention consists of informational sessions describing BPD characteristics/ treatment and time- / stress-management skills<br>|
| Experimental: Condensed-DBT treatment intervention<br>Condensed-DBT treatment intervention includes all DBT components, tailored to students. | Behavioral: Condensed-DBT treatment intervention<br>* The Intervention consists of an 8-week manual based psychoeducational group utilizing modified condensed-DBT Treatment manual previously used in a treatment study (Moen et al, 2012).<br>* Other names: The proposed Condensed-DBT treatment intervention includes all DBT components, tailored to students.;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) behaviors | produce greater decreases in depression, anxiety, self-harm, and other BPD behaviors, | 8-weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in reported psychiatric symptoms, | diminish reported psychiatric symptoms, and Decreased utilization of Emergency Room, crisis, and University Disability Services on campus. | 8-weeks | 
| Diminished emergency room visits | self reported ER visits | 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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self-harm, self-mutilation, cutting