Mental health practitioners’ experiences of borderline personality disorder in adolescence
To learn about mental health practitioners’ experiences of working with service users who had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescence
To recognise the consequences of a BPD diagnosis for adolescents and the healthcare professionals working with them
To consider strategies that could enhance the care of adolescent service users and support mental health practitioners
Over the past two decades, research has legitimised the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents, meaning that it can be applied to this age group based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, the suitability of a BPD diagnosis for adolescents is still debated.
The author conducted a critical review exploring mental health practitioners’ experiences of working with service users who had been diagnosed with BPD in adolescence. Three themes were identified: consequences of BPD; conflict and collusion; and uncertainty. While a BPD diagnosis can provide hope and validation for some service users, stigma, professional attitudes, symptom instability and diagnostic permanency ultimately lead to uncertainty regarding its clinical value in adolescents. Psychological formulation could be a useful alternative, while reflective practice could support teams in addressing any counterproductive dynamics arising from the diagnosis of BPD in adolescents.
