Lessons from an Australian community dialectical behaviour therapy programme for borderline personality disorder

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Services
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) guidelines in 2003 prompted reassessment of services for personality disorders.
• Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) face challenges in developing effective treatment programs for this patient group.
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a prevalent condition with significant patient and service costs, often becoming a focus for CMHTs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a community mental health team (CMHT)-based dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) program.
• To reflect on the suitability of this DBT program as a model for UK CMHTs.
• To address the need for evidence-based treatments for personality disorders within community mental health services.

Main Methods:

• Description of a CMHT-based dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) program implemented in Western Australia.
• Reflection on the program's applicability and potential benefits for UK-based CMHTs.
• Consideration of the challenges and successes of implementing specialized treatment programs.

Main Results:

• A CMHT-based DBT program has been successfully outlined and is operating in Western Australia.
• The program provides a potential model for other CMHTs, particularly in the UK, seeking to enhance their service provision for personality disorders.
• The evidence base for community-based treatments for personality disorders remains limited, highlighting the need for such program outlines.

Conclusions:

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a viable and potentially effective treatment modality for borderline personality disorder within a community mental health team (CMHT) setting.
• The outlined Western Australian DBT program offers a practical example for UK CMHTs aiming to develop specialized services.
• Further exploration and implementation of evidence-based treatments like DBT are crucial for improving care for individuals with personality disorders in community mental health settings.