Borderline personality disorder: clinicians' accounts of good practice

Abstract

People with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder are relatively high users of inpatient and community services. There is concern, however, that mental health nurses feel negative about working with this group of people, are often socially distancing and feel under-skilled. The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of good practice among mental health professionals working in a service that provided specialist treatment for this group of service users. The research was undertaken through semi-structured interviews and identified four key themes: shared decision making, social roles, peer support and open communication. These themes are discussed in the context of research in this field, the need for recovery-focused services, and through drawing on the Winnicotian notions of disillusionment and mirroring as key developmental processes.

Experiences of patients with borderline personality disorder with the brief admission intervention: A phenomenological study

“…This is supported by Bowen's (2013) findings, in which patients viewed peer support as a vital component of their growth. This is supported by Bowen's (2013) findings, in which patients viewed peer support as a vital component of their growth.…”

Mental health nurses’ attitudes, behaviour, experience and knowledge regarding adults with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder: systematic, integrative literature review

“…Each study acknowledged the human responses which practitioners experienced when working with BPD‐diagnosed individuals. Responses ranged from empathy, warmth, and interest in treatment (Bergman & Eckerdal , Bowen ) to frustration, inadequacy, powerlessness, anger, and therapeutic nihilism (Bergman & Eckerdal , Woollaston & Hixenbaugh , Commons Treloar , Kale & Dantu ). These responses had reported personal, psychological and somatic impacts including fatigue, distress, and desensitisation; but in some cases realistic optimism and admiration (Cotes , Woollaston & Hixenbaugh , Ma et al .…”

“…These responses had reported personal, psychological and somatic impacts including fatigue, distress, and desensitisation; but in some cases realistic optimism and admiration (Cotes , Woollaston & Hixenbaugh , Ma et al . , Bowen , Warrender ). Studies commonly noted the emotional impact that working with these individuals can have, and practitioners identified intrusive thoughts, feelings of responsibility and coping with suicide threats as the most distressing aspects of care (Cotes , McGrath & Dowling , Kale & Dantu ).…”

Why go to the emergency department? Perspectives from persons with borderline personality disorder

“…Interventions that aim to improve connections for persons with BPD exist, such as community‐based group therapy, peer support, and life‐skills programmes. Often, these interventions target quality of relational interactions by developing stronger interpersonal skills and higher social functioning through psychotherapy (Bowen ; Gillard et al . ).…”