IMPACT OF DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY ON SEXUAL IMPULSIVITY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING IN WOMEN WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: A PARALLEL-GROUP RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Background: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in women is often marked by heightened sexual impulsivity and significant impairments in psychosocial functioning. While Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is well-established for core BPD symptoms, its specific effects on sexual impulsivity remain underexplored.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of DBT on sexual impulsivity and psychosocial functioning among women diagnosed with BPD.

Methods: This parallel-group randomized controlled trial included 20 women meeting DSM-5 criteria for BPD, recruited from a tertiary psychiatric facility. Participants were randomized into two groups: Group A (n = 10), receiving standard DBT over 12 weeks, and Group B (n = 10), receiving treatment as usual (TAU). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up using the Sexual Impulsivity Scale (SIS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: At post-intervention, the DBT group showed a statistically significant reduction in SIS scores (mean reduction = 9.2 points; p < 0.01), indicating reduced sexual impulsivity, while the TAU group showed minimal change. The GAF scores improved significantly in the DBT group (mean increase = 14.6 points; p < 0.01), reflecting better psychosocial functioning, compared to a modest and non-significant change in the TAU group. Improvements in DERS scores in the DBT group were also significant (p < 0.05), especially in subdomains related to impulse control and emotional awareness. These gains were sustained at 3-month follow-up, with no significant decline in treatment effects.

Conclusion:Preliminary findings suggest DBT may be effective in reducing sexual impulsivity and improving psychosocial functioning in women with BPD. Further research with larger samples is warranted to confirm these results and support wider clinical application.