Telehealth DBT skills training for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and their support partners

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their spouses often experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties due to physical pain. When these symptoms arise, caregivers also face numerous emotional challenges.

Recently, a pilot study conducted by Dr. Botanov’s research team in the United States focused on the effects of remote DBT skills training for adults aged 18 and above who reported such symptoms. The participants were divided into two groups: one group received DBT therapy from DBT experts, including mindfulness skills, interpersonal skills, emotion regulation skills, individual counseling sessions, and coaching between sessions; the other group participated in general supportive discussion groups facilitated by experts. All sessions were conducted remotely.

After 12 and 26 weeks of treatment, the couples who received DBT skills training showed effective results in improving interpersonal relationships and satisfaction. However, this preliminary study did not include distress tolerance skills and had the limitation of being conducted remotely. It was also conducted for a shorter duration compared to the standard DBT program.

In the future, further research will explore how DBT therapy programs can benefit patients with multiple sclerosis, their spouses, and caregivers, shedding light on how DBT can alleviate their emotional and emotion regulation problems. It is hoped that through research, DBT can provide assistance to many patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.