From online skills groups to new questions about recovery, recent studies explore how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is being used and what researchers are learning about its effects.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally developed to help people with chronic suicidal behavior and is now a leading treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Researchers continue to study how DBT works, who may benefit, and how to make treatment more accessible.

The September 2026 Monthly DBT Research Digest featured 10 research studies covering a wide range of topics. Here’s a look at what researchers wanted to know and what they discovered.

1. Does PTSD Affect DBT Outcomes for Veterans With BPD?

The study: Researchers followed 62 veterans receiving comprehensive DBT, including 31 who had probable or confirmed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They wanted to know whether having PTSD alongside BPD symptoms affected participation in treatment or improvement over time.

What they found: Veterans with PTSD showed greater reductions in BPD symptoms during treatment than those without PTSD. Having PTSD also did not appear to affect treatment participation. These findings suggest that veterans with both BPD symptoms and PTSD can benefit from DBT.

Citation: Schreiber, A. M., Davis, M. T., & Cawood, C. D. (2026). Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and BPD symptoms benefit from dialectical behavior therapy: Effects of PTSD on BPD symptom trajectories. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 55(5), 780–794. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2025.2572480

2. Can Online DBT Skills Training Help University Students?

The study: Researchers studied an eight-week DBT skills training program offered to 123 university students. Some attended in person, while others participated online. The goal was to see whether both formats were practical and helpful.

What they found: Students reported improvements in managing emotions, self-compassion, and confidence in their academic abilities. Students who began with higher levels of distress showed greater improvements. Satisfaction was high, and few students dropped out of the program. However, more research is needed to determine how effective the program is and whether one format works better than the other.

Citation: Bani, M., Zorzi, F., Cavicchioli, M., Russo, S., Ardenghi, S., & Strepparava, M. G. (2026). Online and in-person dialectical behavior therapy skills training for university students: A non-randomized comparative trial of feasibility and outcomes. Journal of Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2026.2732872

3. Can Virtual DBT Groups Help People With Binge Eating Disorder?

The study: Researchers examined a 10-week virtual DBT group for adults with binge eating disorder. Of the 108 people offered treatment, 51 started the program.

What they found: Among those who began treatment, 71% completed the program. By the end, approximately 65% reported no binge eating. Participants also showed improvements in eating disorder symptoms and mood, which continued at a one-month follow-up. However, fewer than half of those offered treatment chose to participate. Researchers say more studies are needed to understand both the benefits of virtual DBT and the barriers that may prevent people from accessing it.

Citation: Briggs, E., Wakefield, S., Adams, G., Beard, J., & Turner, H. (2026). Virtual group dialectical behavior therapy for binge eating disorder: Acceptability and preliminary clinical outcomes from a routine service evaluation. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 55(5), 846–855. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2025.2571633

4. Can a Combination of Self-Paced Lessons and Live DBT Groups Work Online?

The study: Researchers examined TheraHive, a 22-week online DBT skills training program. The program combines lessons participants complete on their own with weekly live group sessions. Researchers analyzed questionnaires from 251 participants to explore changes in mental health symptoms.

What they found: Participants reported improvements in anxiety and stress, although changes in depression symptoms were not statistically significant. The results suggest this approach may be a useful way to make DBT skills training more accessible. A future randomized trial will help researchers determine how effective the program is.

Citation: Frank, H. E., Finkelstein, J., Smart, A., & Hughes, C. (2026). A blended learning approach to online DBT skills training: Preliminary clinical outcomes. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy.

5. Can DBT Skills Help Caregivers of Young People With Anorexia?

The study: In China, researchers tested a 12-week online program for 45 caregivers from 26 families. The program combined Family-Based Therapy (FBT) with DBT skills training to support caregivers of young people with anorexia nervosa.

What they found: Caregivers reported feeling less burdened by their responsibilities and experiencing fewer eating disorder-related challenges at home. The young people’s body mass index (BMI) also increased during the study. However, caregivers did not show significant improvements in general psychological distress. Because the study did not include a comparison group, researchers cannot yet determine whether the program caused these changes.

Citation: Zhang, L., et al. (2026). A pilot study of the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of an intensive multidisciplinary online intervention integrating FBT and DBT for caregivers of youth with anorexia nervosa in China. International Journal of Eating Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.70216

6. Can a DBT-Informed Approach Reduce Self-Harm in Young People?

The study: In a randomized clinical trial, researchers studied 301 young people ages 12–24 who were at risk for suicide or self-harm. They compared a health system’s suicide prevention efforts with an added program that matched young people to different levels of care based on their needs. The added program included a treatment approach informed by DBT and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

What they found: The two groups did not differ significantly in suicide attempts over 12 months, which was the study’s main outcome. However, young people receiving the added program reported less overall self-harm, fewer depression symptoms, and greater satisfaction with their care. These findings suggest that matching treatment intensity to a person’s needs may offer benefits, although more research is needed.

Citation: Asarnow, J. R., Clarke, G. N., Firemark, A. J., Bedics, J., Miranda, J., Zhang, L., Duan, N., & Comulada, W. S. (2026). Stratified stepped-care for reducing suicide attempts and self-harm in youth: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 65(9), 1133–1145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2025.12.008

7. Does DBT Change How People With BPD Notice Signals From Their Bodies?

The study: Researchers studied how people with BPD notice and interpret internal body signals, such as their heartbeat. This ability is called interoception. They compared 55 people with BPD with 31 people without BPD, then examined changes following a four-week residential DBT program.

What they found: Before treatment, people with BPD reported paying less attention to internal body signals. This was also linked to greater difficulties in relationships. After DBT, participants reported improvements in how much attention they paid to these signals. However, researchers did not find significant improvements in other measures of interoception. The findings suggest that different aspects of body awareness may need different approaches in treatment.

Citation: Voelter, J., Postin, D., Müller, C., Roheger, M., Schulz, A., Bekrater-Bodmann, R., Hurlemann, R., & Scheele, D. (2026). Selective interoception impairments and treatment effects in borderline personality disorder. Translational Psychiatry, 16, Article 463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04414-7

8. Does More Intensive DBT Lead to Greater Improvements in Suicidal Thoughts?

The study: Researchers followed 105 adults in a 12-week hospital-based DBT program. Participants received different levels of treatment, ranging from weekly skills groups to more intensive programs that included individual therapy and additional group sessions.

What they found: Suicidal thoughts decreased across all three treatment levels, with no significant differences between them. Participants who improved during the first six weeks were more likely to show meaningful improvement by the end of treatment. Higher levels of a personality trait called disinhibition, which involves difficulty controlling impulses, were linked to lower chances of meaningful improvement. The findings suggest that early progress may help predict treatment outcomes, although the study does not establish that different treatment levels are equally effective.

Citation: Amestoy, M. E., Kolla, N., Levy-Ajzenkopf, J., Klein, R., & Uliaszek, A. A. (2026). Does more mean better? Treatment intensity and predictors of clinically significant change in suicidal ideation during dialectical behaviour therapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.70336

9. Could Artificial Intelligence Have a Role in DBT?

The study: Researchers interviewed 17 DBT psychologists in Sweden about the possible use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in treatment for BPD. The study explored clinicians’ views rather than testing an AI tool with patients.

What they found: Psychologists saw possible benefits, including helping people practice DBT skills and providing support outside therapy sessions. However, they also raised concerns about dependence on AI, its ability to respond appropriately to risky situations, and its possible effects on the relationship between clients and therapists. Researchers concluded that bringing AI into DBT requires careful attention to both safety and the role of human relationships in treatment.

Citation: Liljedahl, N., Ali, L., Liljedahl, S. I., Falk, Ö., & Steingrimsson, S. (2026). Possible role and function of AI conversational agents in dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: Qualitative interview study. JMIR Mental Health, 13, e98840. https://doi.org/10.2196/98840

10. What Does Recovery From BPD Look Like to DBT Therapists?

The study: Researchers interviewed eight DBT therapists about how they understand recovery from BPD and its connection to DBT’s goal of building “a life worth living.”

What they found: Therapists described recovery as more than reducing symptoms or stopping harmful behaviors. They also emphasized developing skills, improving self-acceptance, building a more stable sense of self, and creating a sustainable daily life. The findings highlight the importance of including each person’s goals and values in treatment from an early stage.

Citation: Ljungberg, J. (2026). Recovery from borderline personality disorder in relation to the concept of “a life worth living”: A therapist perspective. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 13, Article 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-026-00352-4

What Can We Learn From These Studies?

Together, these studies show how DBT research continues to grow. Researchers are exploring new ways to deliver treatment, testing DBT skills with different groups of people, and asking questions about what meaningful improvement and recovery look like.

The findings are not all equally strong. Some studies were small or did not include comparison groups, while others used more rigorous methods. Several results are promising, although further research is needed before drawing firm conclusions.

For more information about these studies, along with additional research reviews and case reports, explore the Monthly DBT Research Digest.