Strength in Vulnerability: Tailored Mental Health Interventions for Men -

Strength in Vulnerability:
Tailored Mental Health Interventions for Men

Rytlife
Charu Lavania & Neethu Prakashan

Highlights

						
Dialectical Behavior Therapy effectively reduces symptoms like aggression and impulsivity in men with borderline personality disorder.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Corrections Modified significantly decreases aggression and impulsivity in adolescent males.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction helps reduce psychological symptoms and improves coping mechanisms in adolescent males.

Both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness-based therapy effectively reduce anxiety and depression in men, with no significant difference in outcomes between the two.

Men’s mental health has increasingly been recognized as a critical area of concern in the field of psychology and mental health. Historically, men have been less likely to seek help for mental health issues, contributing to a silent crisis in men’s mental health (Smith et al., 2018). This reluctance to seek help often leads to challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Recent research has focused on developing and evaluating therapeutic interventions that are specifically tailored to address the unique needs of men with mental health issues. This article reviews several key studies that have explored the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in treating mental health issues in men.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been effective for women with borderline personality disorder (BPD). To evaluate its efficacy for men with BPD, Wetterborg et al. (2020) conducted a 12-month clinical trial involving 30 men with BPD and antisocial behaviour. The study found that DBT reduced symptoms like self-harm, criminal behaviour, aggression, and comorbid depression in men. Despite a 30% dropout rate, those who completed a year of follow-up showed considerable symptom reduction. Similarly, Bianchini et al. (2019) applied DBT to 21 male adult offenders, measuring outcomes with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20). The results indicated a significant reduction in impulsiveness and enhanced emotional regulation among participants. Another study conducted by Shelton et al. (2011) implemented Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Corrections Modified (DBT-CM) in a study with 38 adolescent males exhibiting impulsivity and aggression. Using a pretest and post-test design, the study concluded that DBT-CM notably decreased symptoms of physical aggression and impulsivity, highlighting its effectiveness for adolescent males.

Tailoring interventions for men's mental health is crucial. DBT and mindfulness-based therapies show promise, addressing gaps and promoting well-being.

Sibinga et al. (2013) explored the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on stress in a 12-month study with 42 adolescent male participants. The findings suggested that MBSR led to reduced psychological symptoms and enhanced coping mechanisms, indicating improved self-regulation in urban male youth. However, further research is needed to understand the long-term psychological, social, and behavioural impacts of mindfulness training on this demographic.

In a study comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy among 125 male participants, Nesset et al. (2021) used the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25 and the Difficulties in Emotion Control Scale for assessment over a 12-month period. While both therapies reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups.

The reviewed studies indicate a promising direction in the treatment of mental health issues in men. DBT and its modified form, DBT-CM, have shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms of aggression, impulsivity, and poor emotional regulation in both adult and adolescent males. Mindfulness-based interventions, including MBSR, have also demonstrated potential in improving psychological well-being and self-regulation in male populations. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring therapeutic interventions to meet the specific needs of men, addressing the longstanding gap in men’s mental health treatment. Future research should continue to explore and refine these interventions, ensuring they are accessible and effective for men across diverse backgrounds and age groups.

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References

Bianchini, V. et al. (2019) ‘Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for forensic psychiatric patients: An Italian pilot study’

Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 29(2), pp. 122–130.

https://doi:10.1002/cbm.2102

Nesset, M. B., Bjørngaard, J. H., Whittington, R., & Palmstierna, T. (2021). Does cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness-based therapy improve mental health and emotion regulation among men who perpetrate intimate partner violence? A randomised controlled trial.

International Journal of Nursing Studies, 113, 103795

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103795

Sibinga, E. M. S., Perry-Parrish, C., Chung, S., Johnson, S. B., Smith, M., & Ellen, J. M. (2013). School-based mindfulness instruction for urban male youth: A small randomized controlled trial.

Preventive Medicine, 57(6), 799–801

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.08.027

Shelton, D., Kesten, K., Zhang, W., & Trestman, R. (2011). Impact of a dialectic behavior therapy-corrections modified (DBT-cm) upon behaviorally challenged incarcerated male adolescents.

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 24(2), 105–113

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2011.00275.x

Smith DT, Mouzon DM, Elliott M. Reviewing the Assumptions About Men’s Mental Health: An Exploration of the Gender Binary.

American Journal of Men’s Health. 2018;12(1):78-89.

https://doi:10.1177/1557988316630953

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