How to Mitigate Risk in the Treatment of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Clinical Risk Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Treating patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) presents unique challenges for clinicians, often raising concerns about adverse events.
• These concerns can lead to potential litigation or complaints filed with administrative boards, impacting both patient care and clinician well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline practical steps for clinicians to ensure the safety of both patients and themselves when managing borderline personality disorder.
• To provide guidance on risk management tailored to the specific complexities of BPD treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of available data on malpractice litigation and administrative complaints in psychiatry.
• Analysis of common challenges cited in cases involving patients with BPD.
• Consideration of recent changes in psychiatric training, healthcare delivery, and patient information regulations.

Main Results:

• Psychiatry has a relatively low risk of malpractice litigation but a high risk of administrative complaints.
• Frequent challenges in treating BPD are often cited in these complaints and litigation.
• Empirically validated treatments for BPD have advanced, offering new avenues for safe and effective care.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians can mitigate safety concerns by integrating established risk management principles with a nuanced understanding of BPD.
• Adapting risk management strategies is crucial for enhancing patient safety and reducing clinician-related complaints and litigation in BPD treatment.