How do general hospitals respond to people diagnosed with a personality disorder who are distressed: A qualitative study of clinicians in mental health liaison
Authors: Sharda Leila , Baker John , Cahill Jane 
Published: July 2022

Accessible summary

What is known on the subject?

People diagnosed with a personality disorder might be more likely to have physical health problems and be admitted to the hospital. Treatment in hospitals might be complicated by mental health crises or self‐injury, and barriers to NHS care may increase the risk of developing further illness with serious consequences.

Literature on “personality disorder” and the general hospital has to date primarily focused on emergency departments. Research on how general hospital inpatient wards respond to people diagnosed with a “personality disorder” has been long overdue. Thirteen clinicians working in mental health liaison in the general hospital were interviewed as part of a sequence of research studies.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

This study identified unjust and avoidable differences in the care and treatment received by people diagnosed with a “personality disorder” in general hospitals. People with a “personality disorder” diagnosis were discriminated against and over‐ and under‐medicated.

Mental health liaison clinicians reported limited understanding and skills among general hospital clinicians. People working in general hospitals were fearful of the “personality disorder” diagnosis. Poor care was accepted because general hospital clinicians did not consider themselves to be “mental health trained.”

What are the implications for practice?

Clinicians working in mental health liaison need credible knowledge of mental and physical health and medicines.

Capability, influence, and high‐level interpersonal skills are needed to successfully work across mental health services and the general hospital.

More advanced and consultant‐level nursing roles in more mental health liaison teams are needed to strengthen this specialist workforce.

Introduction

Literature on “personality disorder” and the general hospital has to date primarily focused on emergency departments. Research on how general hospital inpatient wards respond to people diagnosed with a “personality disorder” has been long overdue.

Aim

Qualitative telephone interviews were undertaken to explore the views and perspectives of clinicians working in mental health liaison in this final strand of a mixed methods explanatory sequential study.

Method

Participants were recruited via social media and professional networks by snowball sampling. Data were analysed using a framework approach.

Results

Four themes were identified: knowledge, understanding, skills, and discriminatory practice; alliances, diplomacy, care, and treatment of people diagnosed with a “personality disorder”; achieving parity of esteem in a disparate healthcare system; and organizational stress, mismatched expectations, and service led decision‐making.

Discussion

There were unjust and avoidable differences in the care and treatment received by people diagnosed with a “personality disorder” in the general hospital. People were discriminated against and routinely over‐ and under‐medicated.

Implications for practice

Clinicians working in mental health liaison need capacity for partnership working, clinical capability spanning mental and physical health, credibility and influence and high‐level interpersonal skills to address the entrenched discrimination of people diagnosed with a “personality disorder.”