A qualitative study on the use of the care programme approach with individuals with borderline personality disorder:...

A newly developed specialist personality disorder service in the United Kingdom arranged a focus group with seven service users with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) to explore their experiences of the Care Programme Approach (CPA) while under the care of a community mental health team. A thematic analysis generated seven themes. Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder and Understanding Recovery were highlighted as difficulties service users face, with a lack of staff understanding. They also spoke about the struggle of having a voice in their CPA meetings and the lack of information they received in the CPA process. They discussed the deliberation between progression versus consistency and moving on from services. Service users discussed the challenges of accessing treatment and lack of follow up in the CPA process. Greater service user involvement in the process would help address the dissatisfaction and disempowerment in care planning experienced by individuals diagnosed with BPD. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 51(10), 38-45.].