AlexithymiaNCT07865494
Group Skills Training (DBT vs CBT) for Alexithymia in Young Adult Women
A study testing DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST) and CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST) in people with Alexithymia and Anxiety, run by Atlas University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This pilot randomized controlled trial examined whether group skills training based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can reduce alexithymia (difficulty identifying and describing emotions), anxiety, and interpersonal problems in young adult women with elevated alexithymia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Alexithymia, Anxiety, Interpersonal Problems
- What is being tested?
- DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST) and CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 41 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 12 Jul 2023to 27 Sep 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female Aged 18-25 years Alexithymia score greater than 1 SD above the sample mean on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) No current psychological diagnosis (self-report) Not currently receiving psychotherapy
Who cannot join
- Alexithymia score at or below the sample mean (< 1 SD above mean) on the TAS-20 Current psychological diagnosis Age outside the 18-25 year range Currently receiving psychotherapy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University
Istanbul, Üsküdar
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Dialectical and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies on Alexithymia, Anxiety, and Interpersonal Problems in Young Adult Women: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
This pilot randomized controlled trial examined whether group skills training based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can reduce alexithymia (difficulty identifying and describing emotions), anxiety, and interpersonal problems in young adult women with elevated alexithymia. Forty-one women aged 18-25 were randomly assigned to a DBT skills-training group, a CBT skills-training group, or a waitlist control group. Both active groups attended 12 weekly online group sessions of 90 minutes. Alexithymia, anxiety, interpersonal problems, mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal competence, and distress tolerance were assessed before, midway through, and after the 12-week program. The study aimed to provide preliminary evidence on whether, and how, these two group interventions affect alexithymia and related outcomes.
Read the detailed description
Participants were young adult women (aged 18-25) with alexithymia scores greater than one standard deviation above the sample mean, no current psychological diagnosis, and no ongoing psychotherapy. After screening, 41 eligible participants were randomized to DBT group skills training (n = 14), CBT group skills training (n = 14), or a waitlist control (n = 13). The DBT program delivered orientation, mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness modules; the CBT program addressed automatic thoughts, intermediate and core beliefs, and relapse prevention. Both were delivered online over 12 consecutive weekly 90-minute sessions; the waitlist group received no intervention and completed the same assessments. Outcomes were measured at pre-, mid-, and post-treatment using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-S), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ), and Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Data were analyzed with mixed two-way analyses of variance (group × time). As a completed pilot study, the trial is reported with a completer-based analysis.
- Conditions
- Alexithymia, Anxiety, Interpersonal Problems, Emotion Regulation
- Being tested
- DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST), CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST)
- Keywords
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- Medical subject headings
- Affective Symptoms, Anxiety Disorders, Emotional Regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST)Behavioural
A group skills-training program based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, delivered in weekly 90-minute sessions over 12 weeks. Modules included mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, adapted for young adult women with high alexithymia.
CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST)Behavioural
A group skills-training program based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, delivered in weekly 90-minute sessions over 12 weeks. Content focused on cognitive restructuring, psychoeducation about emotions, behavioral strategies, and coping skills, adapted for young adult women with high alexithymia.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DBT-GST | Experimental | Dialectical Behavior Therapy group skills training delivered online in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions (orientation, mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness modules). Receives: Behavioral: DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST) |
| CBT-GST | Active comparator | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group skills training delivered online in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions (automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, core beliefs, and relapse prevention). Receives: Behavioral: CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST) |
| Waitlist Control | No intervention | Participants received no intervention and completed the same assessments at the same time points as the active groups. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20)
Alexithymia was measured with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), a 5-point Likert self-report scale; higher scores indicate greater alexithymia. Change across time points was assessed.
Measured: Baseline (pre-treatment), mid-treatment (Week 6), and post-treatment (Week 12)
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change in anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI)
21-item self-report scale; higher scores indicate greater anxiety.
Measured: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in interpersonal problems (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, IIP-C)
Self-report scale of interpersonal difficulties; higher scores indicate more problems.
Measured: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in emotion regulation difficulties (DERS-16)
16-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Brief Form; higher scores indicate greater difficulties.
Measured: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form, FFMQ-S)
Self-report mindfulness scale; higher scores indicate greater mindfulness.
Measured: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in interpersonal competence (Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, ICQ)
Self-report scale; higher scores indicate greater interpersonal competence.
Measured: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale, DTS)
Self-report scale; higher scores indicate greater distress tolerance.
Measured: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Oct 2026
- Study start12 Jul 2023
- Primary completion27 Sep 2023
- Study completion27 Sep 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AlexithymiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 41 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Atlas University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Istanbul Medeniyet University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gulsen Karaman, Atlas University
- Investigators
- F. Işıl Bilican Yurteri, PhD, Principal investigator, Istanbul Medeniyet University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07865494
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-21/11
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Deidentified individual participant data underlying the published results will be made available to qualified researchers on reasonable request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Dialectical and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies on Alexithymia, Anxiety, and Interpersonal Problems in Young Adult Women: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07865494
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023-21/11
- Conditions
- Alexithymia, Anxiety, Interpersonal Problems, Emotion Regulation
- Keywords
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 41 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Atlas UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Istanbul Medeniyet University
- Study start
- 12 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 27 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 27 Sep 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot randomized controlled trial examined whether group skills training based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can reduce alexithymia (difficulty identifying and describing emotions), anxiety, and interpersonal problems in young adult women with elevated alexithymia. Forty-one women aged 18-25 were randomly assigned to a DBT skills-training group, a CBT skills-training group, or a waitlist control group. Both active groups attended 12 weekly online group sessions of 90 minutes. Alexithymia, anxiety, interpersonal problems, mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal competence, and distress tolerance were assessed before, midway through, and after the 12-week program. The study aimed to provide preliminary evidence on whether, and how, these two group interventions affect alexithymia and related outcomes.
Detailed description
Participants were young adult women (aged 18-25) with alexithymia scores greater than one standard deviation above the sample mean, no current psychological diagnosis, and no ongoing psychotherapy. After screening, 41 eligible participants were randomized to DBT group skills training (n = 14), CBT group skills training (n = 14), or a waitlist control (n = 13). The DBT program delivered orientation, mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness modules; the CBT program addressed automatic thoughts, intermediate and core beliefs, and relapse prevention. Both were delivered online over 12 consecutive weekly 90-minute sessions; the waitlist group received no intervention and completed the same assessments. Outcomes were measured at pre-, mid-, and post-treatment using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-S), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ), and Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Data were analyzed with mixed two-way analyses of variance (group × time). As a completed pilot study, the trial is reported with a completer-based analysis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DBT-GST | Experimental | Behavioral: DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST)Dialectical Behavior Therapy group skills training delivered online in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions (orientation, mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness modules). |
| CBT-GST | Active comparator | Behavioral: CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group skills training delivered online in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions (automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, core beliefs, and relapse prevention). |
| Waitlist Control | No intervention | –Participants received no intervention and completed the same assessments at the same time points as the active groups. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Female Aged 18-25 years Alexithymia score greater than 1 SD above the sample mean on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) No current psychological diagnosis (self-report) Not currently receiving psychotherapy
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Alexithymia score at or below the sample mean (< 1 SD above mean) on the TAS-20 Current psychological diagnosis Age outside the 18-25 year range Currently receiving psychotherapy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST)A group skills-training program based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, delivered in weekly 90-minute sessions over 12 weeks. Modules included mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, adapted for young adult women with high alexithymia. | Behavioural | DBT-GST |
| CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST)A group skills-training program based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, delivered in weekly 90-minute sessions over 12 weeks. Content focused on cognitive restructuring, psychoeducation about emotions, behavioral strategies, and coping skills, adapted for young adult women with high alexithymia. | Behavioural | CBT-GST |
Primary outcome
Change in alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-treatment), mid-treatment (Week 6), and post-treatment (Week 12)
Alexithymia was measured with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), a 5-point Likert self-report scale; higher scores indicate greater alexithymia. Change across time points was assessed.
6 secondary outcomes
Change in anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in interpersonal problems (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, IIP-C)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in emotion regulation difficulties (DERS-16)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form, FFMQ-S)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in interpersonal competence (Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, ICQ)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Change in distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale, DTS)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Deidentified individual participant data underlying the published results will be made available to qualified researchers on reasonable request.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
F. Işıl Bilican Yurteri, PhD principal investigator
Istanbul Medeniyet University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing DBT-based Group Skills Training (DBT-GST) and CBT-based Group Skills Training (CBT-GST) in people with Alexithymia and Anxiety, run by Atlas University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20) (time frame: Baseline (pre-treatment), mid-treatment (Week 6), and post-treatment (Week 12)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Oct 2026.