How do Young People under a DBT service story their lives?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do Young People under a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy service story their lives?
IRAS ID
354929
Contact name
Louise Shepheard-Walwyn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
There is critique of the psychiatric diagnosis emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). Despite this, young people can be diagnosed with EUPD in the UK (NICE, 2009). In the literature there is inconsistent use of the term EUPD, other terms used to describe this group of young people includes "emerging EUPD" and "symptoms of EUPD". Much of the research into young people described by terms such as “emerging EUPD” focuses on staff views and treatment effectiveness. This study aims to hear how this group of young people talk about and make sense of their lives. It is important to explore young people's perspectives to inform how health services understand and support these young people. This study will recruit 5-8 participants from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) service (13-19 years old). DBT is a therapeutic intervention recommended for individuals with a diagnosis of EUPD, "behaviour that suggests" EUPD (NICE, 2009), and “significant emotional dysregulation difficulties who have frequent episodes of self-harm” (NICE, 2022).
Participants will be invited to a 20-minute introductory video or phone call, and then an individual face-to-face interview (approximately 1-hour) at the CAMH DBT service. The interview will ask participants to talk about their lives with the aim of hearing about what the individual views as important, how they have made meaning, and what has contributed to this meaning making. To help guide the conversation the researcher will offer participants the option to visually represent their story during the interview (e.g. drawing a timeline). Young people meeting the DBT service criteria, are not attending university or living independently, and speak a proficient level of English will be included in the study. Young people aged 13-15 will need agreement from a parent/guardian to participate.
Interviews will be audio recorded and data analysis will use narrative analysis.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0408
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion