Preparing people with difficulties consistent with a personality disorder for employment

A feasibility study of dialectical behavioural therapy skills for employment (DBT-SE) for individuals with difficulties consistent with a personality disorder (PD)

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN13122605

Enrollment

Registered

2016-08-10

Start date

2016-05-18

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-11-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Personality disorder

Interventions

DBT-SE Attendees: Participants will be screened over the telephone for suitability and if eligible, will be invited to attend a one-hour enrolment session where baseline clinical, psyc

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: DBT-SE Attendees: 1. Probable Personality disorder (PD) based on the Standardized Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS) 2. Currently unemployed 3. Eligible for employment in the UK 4. Available for employment 5. Functional literacy 6. Aged 18-65 years DBT-SE Supporters: =18 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: DBT-SE Attendees: 1. In receipt of a pension 2. Current florid psychosis 3. Personality disorder (PD) due to head injury 4. Unable to communicate in English 5. Suicide attempt in past 3 months 6. Self-harm in the past month 7. Formal diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder 8. Substance use at a level that would affect functioning at work 9. Currently in receipt of standard or modified DBT

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Feasibility outcomes: 1. Referral site and source will be evaluated by analysing the number and speed of referrals received are measured once all DBT-SE groups have started (approximately week 4) 2. Retention rate will be evaluated by analysing the attendance records of each DBT-SE group, logged weekly during the intervention weeks 1-16 and analysed at the end at week 16 3. Willingness of participants to be randomly allocated to a group as part of the main randomised controlled trial is measured via a semi-structured interview at 20 weeks 4. Suitability and acceptability of patient-centered outcomes are measured via a semi-structured interview at 20 weeks 5. Effectiveness and acceptability of an internet-based delivery method for completion of the assessment and outcome measures is assessed via semi-structured interview at 20 weeks 6. Willingness of participants to allow their supporters to be involved in the study measured via a semi-structured interview at 20 weeks	—

Measure

Time frame

Feasibility outcomes: 1. Referral site and source will be evaluated by analysing the number and speed of referrals received are measured once all DBT-SE groups have started (approximately week 4) 2. Retention rate will be evaluated by analysing the attendance records of each DBT-SE group, logged weekly during the intervention weeks 1-16 and analysed at the end at week 16 3. Willingness of participants to be randomly allocated to a group as part of the main randomised controlled trial is measured via a semi-structured interview at 20 weeks 4. Suitability and acceptability of patient-centered outcomes are measured via a semi-structured interview at 20 weeks 5. Effectiveness and acceptability of an internet-based delivery method for completion of the assessment and outcome measures is assessed via semi-structured interview at 20 weeks 6. Willingness of participants to allow their supporters to be involved in the study measured via a semi-structured interview at 20 weeks

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Patient-centred outcomes: 1. Hours of employment (and employment-related activity) are measured weekly using a diary card from weeks 2-16 and the New Employment Questionnaire (developed for this study) if participants gain employment during the intervention 2. Mood is measured using a number of instruments administered at different time-points across the study: 2.1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 screens for anxiety symptoms, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.2. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 screens for depression symptoms, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.3. State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 measures the experience, expression and control of anger, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.4. Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-PD Version provides detailed information on the interpersonal difficulties experienced by the individual, collected at baseline and at week 16 2.5. Risk Assessment Questionnaire captures rates of self-harm, suicide attempts, and acts of violence, recorded weekly 2.6. Wellbeing is measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale which indexes wellbeing across 5 domains, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.7. ICEpop CAPability measure for adults measuring capability in the general adult population and is commonly used as part of economic evaluation to index facets of wellbeing, collected at baseline, week 16 and at follow-up 2.8. Social functioning is measured by the Work and Social Adjustment Scale which indexes the impact of mental illness on social functioning, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.9. European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions is a health-related quality of life scale (collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 1	—

Measure

Time frame

Patient-centred outcomes: 1. Hours of employment (and employment-related activity) are measured weekly using a diary card from weeks 2-16 and the New Employment Questionnaire (developed for this study) if participants gain employment during the intervention 2. Mood is measured using a number of instruments administered at different time-points across the study: 2.1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 screens for anxiety symptoms, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.2. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 screens for depression symptoms, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.3. State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 measures the experience, expression and control of anger, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.4. Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-PD Version provides detailed information on the interpersonal difficulties experienced by the individual, collected at baseline and at week 16 2.5. Risk Assessment Questionnaire captures rates of self-harm, suicide attempts, and acts of violence, recorded weekly 2.6. Wellbeing is measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale which indexes wellbeing across 5 domains, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.7. ICEpop CAPability measure for adults measuring capability in the general adult population and is commonly used as part of economic evaluation to index facets of wellbeing, collected at baseline, week 16 and at follow-up 2.8. Social functioning is measured by the Work and Social Adjustment Scale which indexes the impact of mental illness on social functioning, collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and at follow-up 2.9. European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions is a health-related quality of life scale (collected at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 1

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Countries

United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactAnna Cattrell

anna.cattrell@nelft.nhs.uk+44 300 555 1201 Extension: 53466

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026