Citation

Turhan S, Taylor M. BJPsych Bull 2016; 40(6): 306-309.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

10.1192/pb.bp.115.052118

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Aims and method: There is currently no trial or other scientific evidence informing the efficacy of any crisis intervention for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). We aimed to assess the patterns of service use by patients with BPD taken on for crisis resolution and home treatment between 2010 and 2013. Patients with a diagnosis of BPD were identified and demographic and clinical data were collected.

RESULTS: All patients were female, and a high proportion had recurrent presentations to crisis and home treatment services in Edinburgh. Many appeared to benefit from intensive home treatment, as measured by the Clinical Global Impression scale. A small number of patients (n = 5) were responsible for more than half of all referrals. Polypharmacy, or regular use of multiple medications, was common, with 62% of all patients receiving three or more regular medications. Clinical implications: Crisis and home treatment services can be beneficial to most people with BPD in crisis. The high rate of polypharmacy seen in this study is of concern. © 2016 The Authors.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; female; United Kingdom; depression; drug use; suicidal behavior; crisis intervention; treatment outcome; polypharmacy; major clinical study; neuroleptic agent; retrospective study; serotonin uptake inhibitor; tricyclic antidepressant agent; mental health service; patient referral; recurrent disease; psychopharmacotherapy; benzodiazepine derivative; borderline state; home care; demography; methadone; atypical antipsychotic agent; health care utilization; opiate addiction; mood stabilizer; treatment response; Article; observational study; outcome assessment; Clinical Global Impression scale; serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor