Emotion Regulation as Mediator of DBT for Autistic Adults
In This Course, You Will Learn How Emotion regulation as a mediator of dialectical behaviour therapy for autistic adults with suicidal ideation This study explores ER factors as mediators in DBT’s impact on suicidal ideation in autistic individuals. Suicidal ideation …
In This Course, You Will Learn How
- Emotion regulation as a mediator of dialectical behaviour therapy for autistic adults with suicidal ideation
- This study explores ER factors as mediators in DBT’s impact on suicidal ideation in autistic individuals.
- Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, and six ER factors were measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale.
- Structural equation modelling compared a non-sequential model with a sequential model targeting ER factors in the following order: reducing suicide risk, enhancing emotional awareness, consolidating skills, and aligning coping strategies with long-term goals.
- DBT effectively reduces suicidal behaviour in autistic individuals, with ER playing a profound mediating role.
Background:
Emotion dysregulation is strongly associated with suicidal ideation, particularly in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) has been shown to reduce suicidality by improving emotion regulation, but the specific mechanisms through which this occurs are not fully understood.
Aim:
To examine whether improvements in emotion regulation mediate the effects of DBT on suicidal ideation in autistic adults, and to compare sequential versus non-sequential approaches to targeting emotion regulation factors.
Setting:
The study was conducted across six specialised autism services within the Dutch mental health system.
Methods:
A multicentre, single-blind randomised controlled trial included 123 autistic adults with suicidal ideation. Participants were randomly assigned to DBT (n = 63) or treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 60). Suicidal ideation was measured using the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), and emotion regulation was assessed with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Structural equation modelling was used to analyse whether emotion regulation mediated treatment effects.
Results:
Emotion regulation mediated approximately 67% of the treatment effect of DBT on suicidal ideation. A sequential model—where emotion regulation skills were addressed in a structured order—showed stronger and statistically significant pathways between treatment and reduced suicidal ideation compared with a non-sequential model. Improvements followed a progression from impulse control and emotional acceptance to emotional awareness, clarity, and the development of adaptive strategies and goal-directed behaviour.
Conclusions:
DBT effectively reduces suicidal ideation in autistic adults, largely through improvements in emotion regulation. Sequentially targeting emotion regulation skills appears to strengthen treatment outcomes and may represent an important mechanism of therapeutic change.
Keywords:
dialectical behaviour therapy; emotion regulation; suicidal ideation; autism; mediation analysis.
Click below to open PDF file Full Screen:
- 1 Section
- 0 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Emotion Regulation as Mediator of DBT for Autistic Adults1
- 0 Students
- Lifetime
- 3 Students
- Lifetime
- 3 Students
- Lifetime
- 2 Students
- Lifetime