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International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 2012; 16: 189–196

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Mindfulness skills in borderline personality disorder patients during


dialectical behavior therapy: Preliminary results

NADER PERROUD, ROSETTA NICASTRO, FRANÇOISE JERMANN &


PHILIPPE HUGUELET

Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract
Objective. One of the components of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is the use of mindfulness skills as a core component
of treatment for subjects with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this study, we investigated changes in and correlates
of mindfulness skills over a 1-year follow-up including a 4-week session of intensive DBT followed by 10 months of stand-
ard DBT. Methods. Fifty-two BPD subjects were assessed several times using the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills
(KIMS) which describes mindfulness in four discrete dimensions: observing (Obs), describing (Des), acting with awareness
(AwA) and accepting without judgment (AwJ). Results. AwJ was the only dimension that increased significantly over time
after adjustment for potential confounding factors (β ⫽ 0.24; P ⫽ 0.0002). Increases in AwJ correlated with improvement
in BPD symptoms. Conclusions. This study highlights the usefulness of investigating changes in mindfulness dimensions
during DBT. AwJ is a possible mechanism for positive change. Encouraging this skill should lead to a more adaptive
response to problematic situations and counteract impulsive and problematic behaviors. The lack of specific control groups
means that these findings are preliminary and replication is required.

Key Words: Borderline, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy, psychotherapy

Objective
from BPD have poor mindfulness skills [6]. These
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is charac- deficits may be linked to the emotional dysregula-
terized by marked instability in affects, disturbed tion, difficulties in interpersonal relationships and
interpersonal relationships and unstable self-identity. harmful behaviors which are the main characteristics
It includes lack of emotional control and harmful of BPD [4,7–9].
impulsivity such as suicide attempts and/or self- Mindfulness meditation, as used in dialectical
destructive behaviors. It is often comorbid with behavior therapy (DBT) [3], is a concept derived
other psychiatric disorders and is associated with from Eastern meditation practice. Mindfulness train-
severe functional impairment and high utilization of ing is a central component of DBT. One of the char-
healthcare [1–3]. acteristics of DBT is the teaching of mindfulness as
Among the theoretical frameworks proposed for a skill in its own right supporting the other skills
BPD, poor mindfulness skills have been advanced as taught in group and individual sessions [3].
a potential core phenomenon underlying this com- In DBT, mindfulness is described as three differ-
plex disorder [4]. Mindfulness has been defined in ent but correlated skills (Observing, Describing and
many ways, but perhaps one of the most commonly Participating) which should be applied in three ways
used definitions comes from Jon Kabat-Zinn, who (non-judgmentally, one-mindfully and effectively). The
defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a par- first skill, Observing, is direct perception of experi-
ticular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and ences, without the addition of concepts or categories.
non-judgmentally” [5]. It has been shown that com- Describing involves adding a descriptive label to what
pared to the community sample, individuals suffering is observed. Participating refers to entering fully and

Correspondence: Nader Perroud, Department of Psychiatry, Division of General Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva and University of Geneva, Rue
du 31-Décembre 8, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland. Tel: ⫹41 22 305 4511. Fax: ⫹41 22 305 4599. E-mail: nader.perroud@hcuge.ch

(Received 12 May 2011; accepted 7 March 2012 )


ISSN 1365-1501 print/ISSN 1471-1788 online © 2012 Informa Healthcare
DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2012.674531
190 N. Perroud et al.
completely into an experience. Non-judgmentally admitted to the program. The setting of the program
involves letting go of all judgments, including both has been described elsewhere [12,13]. Briefly, patients
good and bad judgments, about self and others. One- were referred by their physician. All participants
mindfully means attending to one thing at a time and received psychopharmacological treatment that was
finally effectively asks clients to practice giving up refined by a psychiatrist if necessary before and
being “right” in favor of doing “what works”. These during follow-up. However, most of the participants
skills teach patients to observe non-judgmentally, to remained with the same psychopharmacological
bring their full attention to current experience but treatment during the entire DBT follow-up. They
also to accept the current situation as it is. It is pri- were assessed for psychiatric diagnoses using the Mini
marily related to the quality of awareness that an International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
individual contributes to his/her present experience [14]. Psychotic disorder, bipolar affective disorder
and his/her ability to enter into and participate in this type 1, pervasive developmental disorder, mental
experience without labeling it as good or bad [3]. As retardation, and neurological disorder were exclusion
proposed by Linehan [3], the practice of mindfulness criteria. Each participant was interviewed by either a
will ultimately help patients to overcome their diffi- trained psychiatrist or a psychologist prior to accep-
culties by reducing their attempts to control their tance into treatment. Participants were eligible only
private experience, empower them to deal with emo- if they fulfilled clinical criteria for a diagnosis of BPD
tionally distressing periods and increase individuals’ based on the International Personality Disorder
ability to experience and tolerate the current moment Examination Screening Questionnaire (IPDE-SQ)
while helping them to avoid becoming over-involved for Axis II pathology [15] and the Screening Inter-
in the experience (through rumination for example). view for Axis II Disorder (SCID-II) BPD part [16].
Mainly inspired by DBT, the practice of mindfulness Of the 54 participants, two did not fulfill the five
was later conceptualized into four discrete behavioral required criteria for BPD according to DSM-IV and
skills: observing (Obs), describing (Des), acting with were therefore excluded from the subsequent analy-
awareness (AwA) and accepting without judgment ses. The study was approved by the ethics committee
(AwJ). This conceptualization has empirical support of Geneva University Hospital. Informed written
[10] mainly through the utilization of internationally consent was obtained from all participants.
accepted scales such as the Kentucky Inventory of
Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) [6].
Studies investigating the effect of DBT indicate Treatment
that mindfulness skills increase significantly over Participants were first referred to an I-DBT for 4
time and that this improvement could be correlated weeks of treatment as previously described [12,13]
with improvement in overall BPD symptoms [11]. to provide an overview of the behavioral skills that
Similar results were also recently observed for inten- were to be developed later during standard DBT.
sive DBT (I-DBT) [6]. Despite the observation that I-DBT is an adaptation of standard DBT. All
individual mindfulness-related skills increase dur- patients had individual and group therapy. Behav-
ing DBT, the clinical and demographic correlates ioral targets were chosen within a DBT framework
of these changes are still poorly understood. with suicidal behaviors treated as a priority followed
We therefore investigated changes in the four by behaviors that interfere with therapy and then by
discrete behavioral skills of mindfulness and their behaviors that interfere with quality of life. The pro-
impact on BPD symptoms during a one-year DBT gram also included a “medication” group with the aim
treatment which included a 4-week I-DBT and the of providing an overview of psychotropic treatments
four standard DBT modules. We expected to see an and psychiatric illnesses. Other groups included
increase in the four mindfulness dimensions but behavioral skills training covering the four modules
with less marked improvement during I-DBT than of DBT: emotion regulation, interpersonal effec-
standard DBT. tiveness, distress tolerance and repeated mindfulness
training to increase mindfulness skills [12].
Participants were then referred to standard DBT
Methods as described by Linehan [7], which also includes
mindfulness theory and practice. The mindfulness
Participants
module was given for 3 weeks before each of the other
Fifty-four outpatients who recently had contact with three standard DBT modules: emotion regulation,
psychiatric or medical services for suicidal or para- interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance.
suicidal behaviors, severe impulse control disorders, Mindfulness practice was proposed in each group. Of
anger problems, or who had experienced multiple note and this is a slight adaptation of the standard
therapeutic failures in other treatment programs were DBT, depending on the needs of the participant, some
Mindfulness in DBT 191
of the clients were offered the possibility to complete – The French version of the Beck Depression
only one or two of the standard DBT modules. Inventory II (BDI-II) [17] assesses the current
Both treatments combined weekly individual ses- severity of depression symptoms (score range:
sions with the primary therapist and weekly skills 0 - 63) with a score higher than 28 indicating
training groups. During treatment, participants were severe depression The psychometric proper-
followed by an individual DBT therapist (nurse or ties of the French BDI-II have been described
psychologist) with training in DBT with the aim of previously [18].
increasing the behavioral skills learned during I-DBT – The French version of the Beck Hopelessness
and standard DBT [12]. Adherence to treatment was Scale (BHS) [BHS; 19] was used to estimate the
discussed weekly in the frame of the DBT team ses- degree of pessimism and negativity about the
sions. Patients were also offered telephone contact future (score range: 0–20). The psychometric
with therapists between 08.30 and 18.00 h only dur- properties of the French BHS have been
ing the work week. Of note, in this perspective, the described previously [20].
proposed treatment may not be considered as full – The French version of the KIMS is a 39-item
standard DBT per se. All therapists attended weekly self-report questionnaire [10] composed of four
consultation team sessions, which included mindful- factors: (a) Observing (Obs) or the ability to pay
ness practice and assured that DBT was provided as attention and cultivate openness, awareness and
evidence based. observation of what is noticeable in the present
moment; (b) Describing (Des) or the ability to
find adequate words to depict the richness of
Assessment procedure
what is experienced and observed; (c) Acting
All scales were administered one week prior to the with Awareness (AwA) or engagement in the
commencement of both I-DBT and standard DBT activity or experience, maintaining the focus of
and on the last day of the I-DBT and of each of the attention on whatever is being experienced with-
standard DBT modules resulting in six evaluations out trying to avoid a painful feeling or extend a
(Figure 1). All patients were assessed using the fol- pleasant moment and (d) Accepting without
lowing questionnaires: Judgment (AwJ) or the ability to accept what is

(A) 45 (B) 45

40 40
Describing
Observing

35 35

30 30

25 25

20 20

I−S I−E S−S M1 M2 M3 I−S I−E S−S M1 M2 M3

(C) 45 (D) 45
Accepting without Judgment

40 40
Acting with Awareness

35 35

30 30

25 25

20 20

I−S I−E S−S M1 M2 M3 I−S I−E S−S M1 M2 M3

Figure 1. Changes in mindfulness dimensions (Obs (A), Des (B), AwA (C) and AwJ (D)) during the study. The bars represent standard
deviation. (I-S ⫽ I-DBT start; I-E ⫽ I-DBT end; S-S ⫽ standard-DBT start; M1 ⫽ end of module 1 (emotion regulation skills)∗; M2 ⫽ end
of module 2 (interpersonal effectiveness)∗; M3 ⫽ end of module 3 (distress tolerance)∗. The order of the modules could be changed
depending on the places available in a module and the needs of the participants.
192 N. Perroud et al.
observed in a nonjudgmental way rather than to between the two scales: 0.71, p ⬍ 0.0001). Most of
evaluate the experience as good or bad, right or the participants were female (n ⫽ 47; 90.4%), single
wrong. Items are rated on a five-point scale (n ⫽ 35; 67.3%), childless (n ⫽ 35; 67.3%), and were
ranging from 1 (never or very rarely true) to 5 not working (unemployed, on sick leave or in receipt
(always or almost always true). The psychometric of a disability pension) (n ⫽ 31; 59.6%). Mean age
properties of the French KIMS have been was 30.5 (SD ⫽ 7.7) and the depression score at
described previously [6]. baseline was 32.6 on the BDI (SD ⫽ 9.6).
Eleven of the 52 patients (21.1%) completed only
Finally, at the beginning and end of the study, each one or two of the standard DBT modules (this was
participant completed the International Personality agreed with the therapist before entering the study) or
Disorder Examination Screening Questionnaire stopped therapy temporarily with the therapist’s agree-
(IPDE-SQ) for Axis II pathology [15] and the ment. Six patients (11.5%) dropped out during the
Screening Interview for Axis II Disorder (SCID-II) study. None of the baseline mindfulness dimensions
BPD part [16]. and none of the other baseline characteristics was
Demographic and additional clinical data were associated with dropout and non-completion of the
obtained from a standard questionnaire given to all whole treatment. Available numbers at the start and
participants before entering the program. These data end of each assessment periods were as follows: start
were checked against notes from psychiatric, medical of I-DBT n ⫽ 52; end of I-DBT n ⫽ 52; start of stan-
and surgical units and by contacting the referrers. dard DBT n ⫽ 51; end of first module n ⫽ 40; end of
second module n ⫽ 38; end of third module n ⫽ 35.

Statistical analyses
Linear mixed models with maximum likelihood Changes in mindfulness during DBT
estimation where treatment time was a fixed effect Observing. There was a significant change in Obs
and the individual a random effect, as described during the entire therapy (I-DBT ⫹ standard DBT)
elsewhere [21,22], were used to analyze the effect (β ⫽ 0.13; P ⫽ 0.042; 95% CI from 0.01 to 0.24)
of I-DBT and standard DBT on the four dimen- (Table II). When standard DBT only is considered,
sions of mindfulness. Using this model, we analyzed there was also a significant increase in Obs over time
the effects of the four mindfulness dimensions (Obs, (β ⫽ 0.14; P ⫽ 0.001; 95% CI from 0.06 to 0.23)
Des, AwA and AwJ) on BPD symptoms during (Figure 1A). However, this was no longer significant
I-DBT and standard DBT. The results of regression after adjusting for changes in severity of depression
models are presented as standardized regression and hopelessness during the study, which suggests
coefficients (β) with 95% confidence intervals which that the observed effect was mainly accounted for by
can be interpreted as effect size. these two variables.
Predictors of dropout from the study were
assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression as
Describing. There was a slight significant increase in
previously described [13].
Des over time (β ⫽ 0.16; P ⫽ 0.022; 95% CI from 0.02
As we analysed the changes of four dimensions
to 0.31) which was mainly accounted for by the time
during two consecutive therapies (I-DBT and standard
spent in standard DBT (β ⫽ 0.18; P ⫽ 0.004; 95% CI
DBT) (two tests per dimension) as well as their impact
from 0.06 to 0.31) (Figure 1B). As for Obs, it was no
on BPD symptoms (one test per dimension) a cor-
longer significant after adjusting for changes in severity
rection for multiple testing was required. For a Bonfer-
of depression and hopelessness during the study.
roni correction on the P values, we used P ⫽ 0.05/
(8 ⫹ 4) ⫽ 0.0042 as a threshold for significance.
All analyses were performed using STATA Acting with awareness. Figure 1C clearly indicates
release 10. that there was no significant increase in AwA during
the entire therapy (I-DBT ⫹ standard DBT) or stan-
dard DBT alone (β ⫽ 0.11; P ⫽ 0.102; 95% CI from
Results –0.02 to 0.23 and β ⫽ 0.11; P ⫽ 0.065; 95% CI from
–0.02 to 0.22).
Baseline clinical/demographic characteristics
and patient flow
Accepting without judgment. There was a significant
Tables I and II show the baseline clinical and demo- increase in AwJ over time (from 19.8 (SD ⫽ 6.8) to
graphic characteristics of the 52 subjects. All par- 27.2 (SD ⫽ 8.1); β ⫽ 0.39; P ⬍ 0.0001; 95% CI from
ticipants had a score of 5 at least on the SCIDII and/ 0.24 to 0.54) (Figure 1D).This was mainly accounted
or IPDE-SQ BPD dimension (Pearson’s correlation for by the time spent in standard DBT (β ⫽ 0.41;
Mindfulness in DBT 193
Table I. Clinical and demographic characteristics at baseline.

Mean SD

Age 30.5 7.7


Age at first hospitalization 28.1 7.9
Education (Years) 12.9 2.7
N %
Gender Female 47 90.4
Number of hospitalization None 21 38.9
One 17 31.5
Two or more 16 29.6
Marital status Single 35 67.3
Married/co-habiting 8 15.4
Separated/divorced or 9 17.3
widowed
Number of children 0 35 67.3
1 7 13.5
2 5 9.6
3 or more 5 9.6
Profession Full-time or part-time work 14 26.9
Unemployed 6 11.5
On sick leave 20 38.5
Disability pension 5 9.6
Student 7 13.5
Comorbid Diagnoses Recurrent MDD 42 80.8
Bipolar disorder type II 5 0.1
Schizo-affective disorder 2 0.04
Substance use disorder 3 0.06
History of suicide attempts 27 51.9
Treatment at baseline Antidepressants 28 53.8
Neuroleptics 17 32.7
Antidepressants ⫹ neuroleptics 5 0.1
Mood stabilizers 2 0.04

P ⬍ 0.0001; 95% CI from 0.28 to 0.54) and was not Neither drop-outs nor the effective number of
significant for I-DBT (β ⫽ 0.32; P ⫽ 0.182; 95% CI weeks each subject attended DBT did correlate with
from –0.18 to 0.91). After adjustment for the sever- improvement in mindfulness skills.
ity of BDI and BHS scores throughout the study (as
time-dependent covariates), the results still showed
Effect of AwJ on BPD symptoms
a significant increase in AwJ over time (β ⫽ 0.24;
P ⫽ 0.0002; 95% CI from 0.11 to 0.36). The results There was a non-significant decrease in BPD symp-
remained significant after adjustment for baseline toms over time (6.9 (SD ⫽ 1.2) to 6.2 (SD ⫽ 1.9);
avoidance scores, number of hospitalizations and β ⫽ –0.12; P ⫽ 0.101; 95% CI from –0.26 to 0.02).
baseline pharmacological treatment. Interestingly, after adjustment for baseline borderline

Table II. Baseline and end–of–treatment scores for BDI, hopelessness, SCIDII, IPDE and KIMS (P ⫽ P values for the mixed linear
models).

Baseline scores Scores at the end of treatment

Mean SD Median Range Mean SD Median Range P

BDI 32.6 9.6 32 9–50 18.8 12.5 18 0–46 ⬍ 0.0001


Hopelessness 12.5 5.1 13 3–20 8.5 5.3 8 0–19 ⬍ 0.0001
SCID-II BDL 6.9 1.2 7 5–9 6.2 1.9 6 1–9 0.101
IPDE BDL 6.9 1.4 7 5–9 6.3 1.7 6.5 1–9 0.098
KIMS Obs 38.5 9.4 37 19–60 40.9 9.2 42 20–55 0.042
Des 23.9 6.8 22 13–37 26.5 6.2 27 13–39 0.022
AwA 25.1 6.8 24 13–43 29.4 7.3 30 20–49 0.102
AwJ 19.8 6.8 18 9–36 27.2 8.1 26 9–43 ⬍ 0.0001
194 N. Perroud et al.
personality score, increases in AwJ during therapy patients following I-DBT [6]. We were unable to
were associated with a greater decrease in BPD replicate these findings in our cohort of patients
symptoms (β ⫽ –0.22; P ⫽ 0.021; 95% CI from –0.42 following I-DBT and standard-DBT. The smaller
to –0.03). This was however no longer significant sample size and different analysis method should
after correction for multiple tests. No other effect of explain these discrepancies. It is important to note,
mindfulness was observed. however, that even though we observed a small non-
significant increase in mindfulness subscales, at least
for Des, during I-DBT (Figure 1), this change clearly
did not last after I-DBT ended. Our results show a
Conclusion
major effect of standard DBT on mindfulness
We found that DBT was associated with an increase changes and on AwJ in particular, suggesting that
in mindfulness skills over time with an effect that was these changes require a long process.
more pronounced in standard DBT. Of the four Surprisingly, we did not find a significant increase
dimensions of mindfulness, AwJ was the only one in the other three mindfulness skills: AwA, Des and
that increased significantly over time after adjustment Obs. This could indicate either that our clients were
for several potential confounding factors. Moreover, deficient in developing these dimensions or that our
increases in AwJ correlated with improvement in therapists were ineffective in explaining or “teaching”
BPD symptoms. them. Unfortunately we did not have a measure of
To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore adherence and competence of the therapists during
in such detail the changes in mindfulness and related treatment and we are thus not able to answer this
predictors in both I-DBT and standard DBT. question. The main explication is probably the small
AwJ significantly increased during DBT. This is sample size not allowing us to highlight smaller mag-
an important finding as we found that increases nitude of change in the three other dimensions.
in AwJ correlated with treatment response. If con- Unfortunately, no other study has, to our knowledge,
firmed, these results could have an important impact investigated in detail these kinds of changes in mind-
for BPD subjects. It has already been shown that fulness dimensions during DBT and clearly further
variability in BPD symptoms and related areas of investigations are needed to corroborate and try to
behavioral dysfunction are to a great extent explained understand these intriguing results.
by mindfulness deficits [4,8]. A growing body of evi- Our results also underline the value of assessing
dence suggests that iterative and continuous attempts mindfulness as a multifactorial concept. Even if the
to control private experience through inhibition, four aspects evaluated share variance, these sub-
suppression or avoidance are associated with BPD scales also describe different aspects of mindfulness
symptoms [23,24]. From this perspective, increasing [10,27]. From this perspective, KIMS is an appropri-
acceptance may be an effective approach in the ate scale not only for measuring these four facets of
treatment of BPD. Our results are consistent with mindfulness but also, as evidenced in our study, for
these findings and emphasize the major role played detecting changes in mindfulness skills over time in
by AwJ. We hypothesize, therefore, that increasing BDP subjects participating in DBT. Recent research
mindfulness and AwJ in particular throughout the has identified a fifth factor (non-reactivity), which was
DBT skills modules, teaches patients to bring non- incorporated into a new scale, the Five-Facet Mind-
judgmental awareness to their emotional experiences fulness Scale [28]. Future studies should try to
and thus prevents BPD patients from feeling over- extend our findings using this new factor.
whelmed by their negative emotions [25]. Several This study has several limitations. The first is that
studies have demonstrated these mechanisms in mindfulness is self-reported and that we are measur-
depression [26]. This is also concordant with Baer ing specifically what we taught (see Grossman [29]
and coworkers [10] who found that psychological for more details). Moreover only one of the mindful-
symptoms were negatively correlated with KIMS ness dimensions significantly increased during the
scores suggesting that mindfulness scores are related course of the study and thus the observed improve-
to mental health especially in BPD [6]. The original- ment applies only to this facet and not namely to
ity of our findings lies in the possible effect over time mindfulness as a whole concept. Secondly, without a
of AwJ on BPD symptoms. As the later finding was control group it is impossible to state whether the
no longer significant after correction for multiple observed improvements are exclusively explained by
tests, this results needs to be replicated with a larger participation in therapy or reflect a natural change in
sample size so that mindfulness training in DBT can mindfulness skills and/or are correlated to other
be better oriented. components of the treatment. Thus our findings
We previously showed an increase in the Des sub- should be considered as preliminary and replication
scale (and a trend for AwA) in a large cohort of BPD is therefore required. Moreover, it is impossible to
Mindfulness in DBT 195
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