Working with People with Borderline Personality Disorder in Acute Psychiatric Admission Wards

Who Am I? Dan Warrender Staff Nurse Acute Psychiatric Admission Ward Early Clinical Career Fellow 2012 MSc Nursing at the University of Aberdeen Focus on Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder Instability of interpersonal relationships, self- image and mood Impulsive behaviour Rapid fluctuation between confidence and despair Fear of abandonment and rejection Tendency towards suicidal thinking and self-harm Frequent users of psychiatric and acute inpatient services (NICE, 2009)

Circumstances of Admission Self-Harm and Suicidal Thinking Chaotic Behaviour Referral from Accident and Emergency Place of Safety Use of the Mental Health Act Comorbidity Medication Review Re-evaluation of Treatment Plan

Management Crisis Admission Focus on Management of Immediate Distress Assessment of Risk Constant Observations Use of the Mental Health Act Medication 1 – 1 Interaction

Challenges for Staff Transference Counter-transference Maintaining Professional Boundaries Coercive Bondage Splitting Personal Stress Staff Burnout

Challenges for Patients Transference Counter-transference Diagnostic Baggage Perceived Rejection from Staff Malignant Regression Malignant Alienation

Mentalization A Psychological Therapy Roots in Attachment Theory Thinking about thinking Making sense of ourselves and each-other Regulation of emotional expression Learn to ‘step back’ from your thoughts, examine them to see if they are valid Individual or group sessions with other BPD patients Cost-effective

Evidence BATEMAN, A. and FONAGY, P., (1999). Effectiveness of Partial Hospitalization in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial BATEMAN, A. and FONAGY, P., (2008). 8- Year Follow-Up of Patients Treated for Borderline Personality Disorder: Mentalization-Based Treatment Versus Treatment as Usual

Evidence BATEMAN, A and FONAGY, P., (2009). Randomized Controlled Trial of Outpatient Mentalization-Based Treatment Versus Structured Clinical Management for Borderline Personality Disorder BALES, D., et al., (2012). Treatment Outcome of 18-Month, Day Hospital Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) in Patients with Severe Borderline Personality Disorder in the Netherlands

Challenges for Mentalization Staff leaving clinical areas to attend training Facilitating MBT sessions during high levels of clinical activity BPD patients usually present for ‘crisis admissions’ - variable ability to engage Evidence base for MBT at an early stage (NICE, 2009) MBT untested for brief stays in acute admission environment – research necessary

The Importance of Mentalization “We will misinterpret people if we misunderstand their motives, become distrusting if we assume that people are malevolent, and be unable to love and feel love if we cannot find ourselves in someone else’s mind” (Bateman, Brown and Pedder, 2010, p.84)

Clinical Supervision Opportunity to Process Experiences Space to Reflect Emotional Support Helps Prevent Burnout 1 – 1 or Group Sessions Particularly Valuable in Working with BPD

The Integrated Care Pathways tolerate intense anger, aggression and hate. promote reflection. understand the dynamics and monitor relationships between service users and staff. monitor counter transference feelings, strong feelings that can be unconsciously evoked in staff, to understand the service user’s communications and difficulties. Use a consistent approach. (NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, 2007)

Why Implement Change? High Prevalence of BPD High Frequency of Crises Frequent Users of Psychiatric Inpatient Care Patterns of brief and numerous, or lengthy admissions Economic impact of frequent readmissions ‘Crisis Admission’ lacks structure and focus. Mentalization and Clinical Supervision, could help nurses responses to BPD

NHS Quality Strategy Safe Person-Centred Effective (The Scottish Government, 2013)

Summary No evidence that BPD crisis admissions are beneficial BPD patients still frequent users of inpatient services Staff nurses should be trained in mentalization and make use of clinical supervision Make the most of the opportunity to help and support the patient with BPD

Thesis Mentalization as part of a structured crisis admission Use of Constant Observations Promote Clinical Supervision in Staff Early Discharge Planning Measure to Assess Impact

Thank You

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