CClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07786883DGT-ASSUpdated Aug 26, 2026

Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for People With Autism: A Multiple Baseline Single Case Design

An interventional study of Dialectic Behavioural Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder, sponsored by GGZ Friesland. Recruiting at 1 site in Netherlands. Open to participants aged 16 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-26.

Sponsored by GGZ Friesland · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
6
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
16 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this experimental study is to test the effectiveness of Dialectic Behavioural Therapy in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The aim questions are:

  1. What is the effect of DBT on maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and emotional well-being in patients with ASD?
  2. Is the use of DBT skills associated with a reduction in maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and an increase of emotional well-being over time?
  3. What are the dynamics over time between maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, emotional well-being and sensory overload?

Participants will:

  • Follow DBT of 10 months
  • Keep a diary on their urge of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and well-being
02

Conditions studied

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
16 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD
  • Sufficient understanding, as demonstrated in conversation with intake therapist;
  • Explicit behavioural problems, which, according to patient and therapist, lead to functional problems (like suicidal ideation, auto mutilation, emotional outburst and interpersonal conflicts);
  • BMI > 17;
  • Commitment to the therapy and shared goals as assessed by intake therapist;

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Antisocial behaviour which interrupts the group climate;
  • Presence of a trauma-related disorder that is likely to interfere with the ability to engage effectively in DBT or that requires specialized trauma-focused treatment prior to or alongside DBT as assessed by intake team;
  • Excessive dependency on substances for which no parallel appropriate policy can be made;
  • Diagnosis of psychotic disorder if not stable;
  • Diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
6 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Dialectic Behavioural Therapy

    Dialectic Behavioural Therapy for emotion regulation, adapted to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, given for 10 months

    Behavioral: Dialectic Behavioural Therapy

Interventions

  • BehavioralDialectic Behavioural Therapy

    Dialectic Behavioural Therapy for emotion regulation, adapted to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies (MERS) measured assessed by the DBT diary (Linehan, 2016)

    MERS is the average of the urge to six maladaptive emotion regulation strategies: 1. suicidal thoughts/behaviours 2. self-harm, 3. eating problems 4. substance abuse 5. anger outburst 6. other All emotion regulation strategies are measured on a scale from 0 - 100. MERS will be created by adding scores of the six strategies together and divide it by 6.

    Time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment at 10 months

  2. Emotional well-being as assessed by the DBT diary (Linehan, 2016)

    The daily diary measures emotional suffering and happiness on a scale from 0 - 100. Emotional suffering is inverted, following the logic that higher emotional suffering means lower emotional well-being. The variable well-being is created by averaging the invert of emotional suffering and happiness.

    Time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment at 10 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Social behaviour

    As measured by the Vragenlijst Inventarisatie van Sociaal gedrag bij Volwassenen (VIS-V) (Horwitz et al. 2013). The VIS-V is a 44-item questionnaire that assess social behaviour, with answers ranging from 0 (= not applicable) to 2 (=cleary applicable). Higher scores mean lower social behaviour.

    Time frame: At start of baseline (T1), at end of treatment phase at 10 months (T2)

  2. Emotion regulation

    As measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) (Gratz \& Roemer, 2004). The DERS is a 36-item questionnaire with 5-point Likert answers, ranging from "almost never" to "almost always".

    Time frame: At the start of the baseline phase (T1), at the end of the treatment phase at 10 months (T2)

  3. Generic psychopathology and functioning

    As measured with the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) (De Jong et al., 2008). The OQ-45 is a 45-item questionnaire, with answers ranging from never (0) to almost always (4). Some items are mirrored.

    Time frame: At the start of the baseline phase (T1), at the end of the treatment phase at 10 months (T2)

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • GGZ Friesland
    Leeuwarden, Provincie Friesland 8934AD, Netherlands
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Study documents

  • Study protocol · Mar 18, 2026
  • Informed consent form · Aug 20, 2026

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — To protect the participants of the study

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07786883
Lead sponsor
GGZ Friesland
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 26, 2026
Start date
Sep 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Aug 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Feb 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 26, 2026

Study contacts

Emma Smeenge
Contact
emma.smeenge@ggzfriesland.nl
+31610779265

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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