A new study examining the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for young people in residential rehabilitation programs has shown positive results.
In 2017, the University of Wollongong (Project Air) in partnership with Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm commenced a research project to evaluate the effectiveness of DBT, which is a crucial part of the residential rehabilitation program. Read more: What is DBT?
The study compared two cohorts from Triple Care Farm’s 12-week residential rehabilitation facility over a 10 year period: Cohort A (2008–2009) and Cohort B (2018–2020).
The resulting research paper Now and then: a ten-year comparison of young people in residential substance use disorder treatment receiving group dialectical behaviour therapy was published recently in the prestigious BMC Psychiatry Journal.
The study highlights that young people are presenting for treatment with a higher acuity of psychiatric symptoms (when compared to the comparison group) and demonstrated that DBT and residential care for young people yields positive effects.
The outcomes also continue to demonstrate that quality improvement for psychological treatments and early intervention approaches are important.
Well done to the Triple Care Farm and Project Air team on having this important paper published.
About Triple Care Farm’s Rehabilitation Program
Triple Care Farm’s youth drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation facility helps 16-24 year olds to overcome addiction and develop skills to find their independence in the community. Located in the NSW Southern Highlands, residential rehabilitation program provides treatment and support for addiction and mental health issues, as well as opportunities for young people to gain useful skills for their future. By re-engaging with education and building job and living skills, students are better placed to be independent, find employment or go on to do further study.
This is a holistic program and is tailored to meet each individual’s needs and goals for their future.
Triple Care Farm is accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.
Sir David Martin Foundation is the major funder of Triple Care Farm, giving over 200 vulnerable young Australians, aged 16-24, a safe place to get well and prepare for new opportunities each year. Through philanthropy, we enable best practice models of treatment for youth drug and alcohol addiction.
