A new spin-off of Masaryk University aims to expand effective therapy for patients suffering from extreme emotions, self-harm, and suicidal behavior

Borderline personality disorder is the most common personality disorder in clinical practice, with its severity intensified by a high rate of health-damaging behavior. An estimated 5–10% of patients die by suicide. The number of diagnoses has been increasing in recent years, but treatment options remain limited, and the capacities of psychologists and psychiatrists are already under significant strain. To bring change, a new spin-off company of Masaryk University, EQUILIO – the Czech Institute for Dialectical Behavior Therapy, has been established to educate professionals and expand the use of this still underutilized method in the Czech Republic.

“Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is based on dialectics, cognitive behavioral therapy, and Zen Buddhism, drawing on principles such as balance, mindfulness, acceptance, change, and working with ineffective thinking,” explains Dr. Pavla Horká Linhartová, outlining the main pillars of the approach. While DBT is already an integral part of healthcare systems in Western countries, from which she and her colleagues draw inspiration, mental health professionals in the Czech Republic are only gradually beginning to discover it. “There are only about ten teams operating in the country, most of them in Bohemia; for Moravia, we are the only team in Brno,” she adds. Horká Linhartová helped introduce DBT seven years ago at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University Hospital Brno and the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University.

Compared to international standards, the program has been adapted. “Due to the high number of patients, we had to intensify the program and shorten its duration from the usual one year to half, as waiting times are already around two years,” says psychotherapist Martin Horký. Nevertheless, he notes that the program delivers results in improving the condition of patients with this diagnosis, whose main symptom is extreme emotional intensity and impaired emotional regulation. This negatively affects other areas of life and leads to instability in thinking, behavior, and relationships. Patients often seek relief in self-harm, which frequently results in suicide attempts.

Medication serves only a supportive role. “It may reduce some symptoms, but it does not lead to major changes or cure the disorder,” says Horká Linhartová, adding that personality disorders are no longer considered untreatable. “Within six months, we are able to stabilize a patient and teach them mechanisms to better manage their emotions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is particularly effective in addressing life-threatening behavior.” The benefits of DBT extend beyond individual patients to the entire healthcare system, reducing costs related to emergency medical services, intensive care stays for severely injured patients, and psychiatric interventions, where professionals often struggle with borderline personality disorder cases.

The experts behind the Czech Institute for Dialectical Behavior Therapy also aim to target professionals. “We want to help educate individuals, establish new DBT teams, and unify approaches to care. Our goal is not only to increase the number of DBT specialists but also to enable other professionals to learn and apply its methods when providing follow-up care,” outlines the ambitions of the new spin-off, the third at the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University, according to Martin Horký. “Destigmatization and education of patients’ loved ones are also essential. In short, we aim for a comprehensive shift in how these types of difficulties are understood.”