Working with adults with personality disorder in the community: A multi-agency interview study

Abstract

Aims and method: To explore the impact of adults with personality disorder on the professional groups that support them. Staff (n=72) from five agencies participated in interviews focusing on reactions to short case vignettes representing the three personality disorder clusters. Results: Each presentation was relatively consistent in its impact on staff irrespective of the agency or setting. Several agency-specific themes were also identified, some illustrating areas of potential difficulty in inter-agency working. Many non-mental health workers reported considerable contact with this client group, although most felt dissatisfied with the training available and suggested solutions. Clinical implications: Findings from this study may help to match the content of training courses to need. Similar vignette-based surveys could be used to investigate the impact of staff training over time.