Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DESCRIPTION
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
- It was developed to treat patients with borderline personality disorder.
- It is now used transdiagnostically for chronic emotion dysregulation and recurrent suicidality.
- DBT teaches mindfulness strategies as well as dialectical reasoning, which is the process of synthesizing two opposing beliefs, thoughts, or feelings.
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Last updated: May 11, 2026
Citation
Gary, Joseph, et al. "Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)." Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2026. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787146/all/Dialectical_Behavior_Therapy__DBT_.
Gary J, Osteen GM, Winter E. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2026. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787146/all/Dialectical_Behavior_Therapy__DBT_. Accessed May 15, 2026.
Gary, J., Osteen, G. M., & Winter, E. (2026). Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). In Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787146/all/Dialectical_Behavior_Therapy__DBT_
Gary J, Osteen GM, Winter E. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2026. [cited 2026 May 15]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787146/all/Dialectical_Behavior_Therapy__DBT_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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A1 - Gary,Joseph,M.D.
AU - Osteen,Geneva,M.D.
AU - Winter,Elizabeth,M.D.
Y1 - 2026/05/11/
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UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787146/all/Dialectical_Behavior_Therapy__DBT_
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
