The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Interventions in Reducing Toxic Shame and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder in Clients of Counseling Centers
To determine the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in reducing toxic shame and symptoms of borderline personality disorder in clients of counseling centers.
Design
Single-arm quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study evaluating the effect of DBT on toxic shame and borderline personality disorder symptoms in counseling center clients.
Settings and conduct
Eligible participants will receive group DBT including mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, with assessments before and after treatment.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Being of at least the legal age; having symptoms of borderline personality disorder based on valid diagnostic criteria; ability to complete the study questionnaires; and providing informed consent to participate.
Exclusion criteria: Concurrent participation in similar therapeutic interventions and diagnosis of severe comorbid disorders.
Intervention groups
Participants will receive a structured group Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) intervention based on a standard therapeutic protocol. The intervention will include training in core DBT skills, including mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Sessions will be conducted regularly over a specified period by a trained and professionally qualified therapist under standardized conditions.
Main outcome variables
1.Change in toxic shame score from pretest to posttest. 2. Change in borderline personality disorder symptom severity from pretest to posttest.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
DBT
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260920071122N1
Registration date:2026-09-26, 1405/07/04
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-09-26, 1405/07/04
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-09-26, 1405/07/04
Registrant information
Name
Asma Ebrahimi
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 922 715 5640
Email address
asmaebrahimi342@gmail.com
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-09-27, 1405/07/05
Expected recruitment end date
2026-12-21, 1405/09/30
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Interventions in Reducing Toxic Shame and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder in Clients of Counseling Centers
Public title
Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Reducing Toxic Shame and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Being of at least the legal age.
Being a client of the participating counseling centers and having symptoms of borderline personality disorder based on valid diagnostic criteria.
Having the ability to complete the study questionnaires.
Providing informed consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria:
Concurrent participation in similar therapeutic interventions.
Diagnosis of severe comorbid disorders.
Age
From 18 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Not randomized
Randomization description
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Single
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Approval date
empty
Ethics committee reference number
2
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Research Ethics Committee of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
Street address
Ghadir Street, Khosro Bekter's House
City
Delvar
Province
Boushehr
Postal code
7547117991
Approval date
2026-09-13, 1405/06/22
Ethics committee reference number
IR.BPUMS.REC.1405.184
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Clients of counseling centers diagnosed with borderline personality disorder based on diagnostic criteria and meeting the study eligibility criteria.
ICD-10 code
F60.3
ICD-10 code description
Borderline personality disorder
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Change in toxic shame following dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), measured by the total score of the standardized toxic shame questionnaire at pre-test and post-test.
Timepoint
Pre-test and post-test
Method of measurement
Total score of the standardized toxic shame questionnaire
2
Description
Change in borderline personality disorder symptoms following dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), measured by total and subscale scores of a valid borderline personality disorder symptom assessment scale at pre-test and post-test.
Timepoint
Pre-test and post-test
Method of measurement
Total and subscale scores of a valid borderline personality disorder symptom assessment scale
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group:Group-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) delivered according to the standard treatment protocol, including training in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Mehr Iran Counseling and Psychology Center
Full name of responsible person
Ebrahim Soleimani
Street address
Ashouri Street, opposite Mellat Bank
City
Boushehr
Province
Boushehr
Postal code
7547117991
Phone
+98 917 016 6844
Email
asmaebrahimi342@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Abdolrahim Pazira
Street address
Municipality Square, at the beginning of Shahid Raisali Delvari Boulevard, Velayat Building, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Branch
City
Boushehr
Province
Boushehr
Postal code
۷۵۱۵۸۹۵۴۹۶
Phone
+98 77 3335 0172
Email
info@bushehr.iau.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Asma Ebrahimi
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Ghadir Street Khosro Bakter's residence
City
Delvar
Province
Boushehr
Postal code
7547117991
Phone
+98 922 715 5640
Fax
Email
3490443136@iau.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Asma Ebrahimi
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Ghadir Street Khosro Bakter's residence
City
Delvar
Province
Boushehr
Postal code
7547117991
Phone
+98 922 715 5640
Fax
Email
3490443136@iau.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Asma Ebrahimi
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Ghadir Street Khosro Bakter's residence
City
Delvar
Province
Boushehr
Postal code
7547117991
Phone
+98 922 715 5640
Fax
Email
3490443136@iau.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available