Abstract

Changes in WM, GM, and neural activation in networks involving the PFC underlie the development of EFs during adolescence; however, adolescents with DSH have impaired EFs in the areas of inhibition, emotion regulation, shifting, and interpersonal functioning. DBT-A has been shown to be effective in treating these youth and the skills of mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and “walking the middle path” are suited to treat their impaired EFs. As such, this study examined EF changes in adolescents receiving DBT-A and discussed implications for treatment and brain-behavior relationships. Ninety-three adolescents from a 16-week DBT-A program for DSH were administered the BRIEF-SR at baseline and post-treatment. There was improvement from the at-risk to non-clinical range on the Emotional Control, Shift, and Monitor scales, and the GEC. Significant effects for funding type and previous history of psychiatric hospitalizations were also observed. DBT-A appears to be effective for improving the EFs of adolescents with DSH and for specific subgroups. These EF profiles will assist clinicians in implementing DBT-A skills used during this period of neural development and inform future DBT-A outcome studies that utilize neuropsychological measures and neuroimaging techniques to examine EFs

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Freeman, Kimberly

Second Advisor

Montgomery, Susanne

Third Advisor

Vermeersch, David A.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2015

Date (Title Page)

12-2015

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Self-destructive behavior in adolescence; Adolescent psychotherapy; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavior Therapy; Executive Functions (Neuropsychology)

Subject - Local

Deliberate Self-Harm; Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function; Prefrontal Cortex

Type

Thesis

Page Count

114

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS