TY - JOUR TI - Self-efficacy and its relation to skills coaching in the context of dialectical behavior therapy augmented with a mobile phone app DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T39Z96VN PY - 2015 AB - Background: Change in self-efficacy is a frequent mediator of positive outcomes in studies of cognitive behavioral therapy. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive behavioral therapy designed to increase self-efficacy beliefs by teaching patients a set of behavioral skills; however, no prior studies have looked at change in self-efficacy during DBT. Mobile app technology is a promising way to enhance self-efficacy beliefs by increasing skills acquisition and practice. Aims: The present study explores 1) changes in self-efficacy during six months of DBT treatment augmented with a mobile app (the “DBT Coach”) and, 2) differences in self-efficacy when using skills coaching with the therapist versus the DBT Coach. Method: Four adults with borderline personality disorder and a history of suicidal behavior received comprehensive DBT treatment and the DBT Coach. Every three months, participants completed a measure to assess general self-efficacy. They also completed daily ratings of skills effectiveness. Average and modal ratings of skills effectiveness on days using the types of skills coaching were calculated for each participant. Results: All participants began treatment with low levels of self-efficacy and saw at least some positive change over the course of treatment. One participant rated skills effectiveness as higher when using some type of skills coaching than no coaching, and two reported the opposite pattern. The final participant reported the lowest skills effectiveness on days using the DBT Coach, followed by days using no coaching and days using phone coaching. Participants were divided on which type of skills coaching was associated with higher skills effectiveness ratings. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary support for the assumption that DBT enhances self-efficacy beliefs and suggests potential benefits of augmenting standard psychotherapy with skills-based mobile app technology. One potential benefit of using mobile apps in the context of psychotherapy may be increased self-efficacy beliefs in patients.  KW - Clinical Psychology KW - Dialectical behavior therapy KW - Self-efficacy LA - eng ER -