Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) adapted for the perinatal period

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A mixed-methods investigation into an online Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills group adapted for the perinatal period.

  • IRAS ID

    355600

  • Contact name

    Nicole Stokoe

  • Contact email

    nicole.stokoe1@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Royal Holloway, University of London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    The perinatal period is when somebody is pregnant or has given birth in the last 12-24 months. This is a time of higher mental health risk, with challenges in managing emotions. Healthcare guidelines recommend that therapists should adapt existing therapies to the needs of perinatal individuals.

    Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a helpful therapy to manage emotions and includes skills groups. These groups aim to develop people’s skills in relationships, distress management, emotion management and people's ability to be present in the moment. Research shows this to be useful in improving emotion management and mental health overall. Recent research has looked at how these groups can be changed to fit the perinatal period, but there is not much information on what specifically about these perinatal skills groups is important.

    This research will look at data to see if we can run DBT groups in perinatal services and whether it is useful to people. This will include data from questionnaires, group attendance and interviews with service-users who have taken part in the group.

  • REC name

    London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/LO/0355

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 May 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion