Adaptation and evaluation of a digital dialectical behaviour therapy for youth at clinical high risk for psychosis: A protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Youth at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis often experience emotional dysregulation, psychiatric symptoms, substance use, suicidality, and functional impairment. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based intervention that improves emotion regulation, clinical outcomes, and functioning across psychiatric populations. Digital adaptations (d-DBT) may enhance accessibility and engagement for CHR youth, but acceptability and potential benefits in this group are unknown. Objective To adapt d-DBT for CHR youth and evaluate the acceptability of delivering it to this population, as well as the feasibility of a larger-scale clinical trial. Methods This mixed-methods clinical trial has two phases. In Phase 1, d-DBT will be adapted for CHR youth in collaboration with a lived-experience youth advisory group. In Phase 2, an assessor-masked randomized controlled trial will compare d-DBT (n = 30) with treatment as usual (n = 30). The intervention consists of eight weekly modules, with primary outcomes assessing acceptability, usability, and trial feasibility. Secondary outcomes include changes in emotional dysregulation, psychiatric symptoms, substance use, suicidality, and functioning. Conclusions We anticipate that d-DBT will be acceptable to CHR youth and that conducting a larger trial will be feasible. Preliminary findings may demonstrate improvements in emotion regulation, psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, and functioning. Results will guide further refinement of the intervention and inform the design of a confirmatory clinical trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT06928935