Background: Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is an effective treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, there are many barriers to making this sort of therapy available within routine care in rural areas. Service managers, clinicians and consumers struggle with the poor access to appropriate treatment for this group of people.
Methods: The aim of this study is to trial the implementation and effectiveness of a collaborative and telehealth-based model of delivering DBT in rural areas for people with BPD. The skills-based group therapy (the most labor-intensive component of treatment) will be provided by telehealth and the individual therapy component will be provided by rural clinicians who were trained in this model. The therapeutic program is one-year intensive DBT with weekly group and individual therapy.
Results: The study started training rural clinicians in August and September 2022 and started individual and group therapy for consumers in October and November 2022. The study includes three participant groups: consumers, clinicians, and service managers living and working in rural and remote areas (within Hunter New England and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts in NSW). Quantitative and qualitative data are being collected. The current completion date of the study is December 2023. Preliminary data will be presented at the ISSPD 2023 conference regarding implementation and effectiveness.
Conclusions: Improving access for people with BPD living in rural areas is an important public health issue. Telehealth and collaborative models of dialectical behaviour therapy delivery may be part of the solution for improving care for consumers and increasing support for clinicians.