For Researchers

Planning to conduct research on DBT or want to present or publish findings from your DBT research? The resources below will help you conduct DBT research and connect with the large community of DBT researchers around the world.

On this page:

Developing & Researching Treatment


Collaboration is critical to developing, researching, and disseminating effective treatments. Dr. Linehan founded multiple organizations that together seek to make evidence-based treatments available to all who need it.

Assessment Instruments Used in DBT Research


In order to increase the ability to make comparisons across studies, it is important that DBT researchers use the same assessment instruments. The links below include information about assessment instruments most commonly used in DBT research.

Annual Research Conferences


DBT research is presented at many conferences around the world each year. Some of the most common conferences attended by DBT researchers are:

  • International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT)
  • Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
  • International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders (from ESSPD)
  • American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
  • Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC)
  • North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (NASSPD)
  • International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ISSPD)
  • International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS)

Granting Agencies


Getting grant funding to research DBT is often the most difficult part of the research process. The agencies below have all funded research on DBT in the United States.

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
  • Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (site) (formerly NARSAD)
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Research Journals


DBT research has been published in a wide range of journals that span multiple disciplines. The journals listed below either specialize in topics directly relevant to DBT or have published prominent DBT research.

Suicide Data and Statistics


Data on suicide and self-inflicted injury are an important tool in intervention and prevention efforts. Find the latest information from: