Personality disorder: A mental health priority area

Abstract

Personality disorders have received limited recognition as a public health priority, despite the publication of treatment guidelines and reviews showing effective treatments are available. Inclusive approaches to understanding and servicing personality disorder are required that integrate different service providers. This viewpoint paper identifies pertinent issues surrounding early intervention, treatment needs, consumer and carer experiences, and the need for accurate and representative data collection in personality disorder as starting points in mental health care reform.

Clinician attitudes towards borderline personality disorder: A 15‐year comparison

“…The inclusion of certain terms for the 2015 sample indicating treatment practice (e.g. ‘management plan’ and ‘multidisciplinary team’) may reflect the changing nature of treatment within the mental health system in response to improved prognosis and evidence‐based treatments for individuals with BPD . At the beginning of this paper, Thornicroft, Brohan, Kassam and Lewis‐Holmes was cited, which proposed stigma to be a result of three interrelated problems: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.…”

“…These findings suggest that these problems may be beginning to be addressed. It should also be acknowledged that new approaches for personality disorders had been introduced over the 15‐year period into health services, which would have contributed also to the improved attitudes …”

“…'management plan' and 'multidisciplinary team') may reflect the changing nature of treatment within the mental health system in response to improved prognosis and evidence-based treatments for individuals with BPD. 12,[29][30][31] At the beginning of this paper, Thornicroft, Brohan, Kassam and Lewis-Holmes 10 317 Attitudes toward borderline personality disorder was cited, which proposed stigma to be a result of three interrelated problems: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. These findings suggest that these problems may be beginning to be addressed.…”

“…It should also be acknowledged that new approaches for personality disorders had been introduced over the 15-year period into health services, which would have contributed also to the improved attitudes. 4,12 There are several limitations pertaining to the sampling procedure used in this study to acknowledge. First, the sample size is modest, meaning quantitative results should be interpreted with caution.…”

“…The need to update mental health staff with new evidence for effectiveness of treatment for BPD has been recognized in recent years especially as mental health staff have self‐identified that they lack the skills and knowledge to confidently and competently manage BPD patients, expressing interest in gaining more education and training . Empirical research investigating the impact of education and training on mental health staff has produced promising findings regarding their effectiveness in improving attitudes towards BPD .…”