Risk assessment and management of people with personality disorders
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Risk assessment and management of people with personality disorders

Jane Yeandle Joint head of psychological therapies and personality disorder, Personality Disorder Service, Somerset Partnership Trust, Yeovil, Somerset
Chris Gordon Clinical manager, Personality Disorder Service, Somerset Partnership Trust, Yeovil, Somerset
Elizabeth Challis Assistant psychologist, Personality Disorder Service, Somerset Partnership Trust, Yeovil, Somerset
Liz Fawkes Joint head of psychological therapies and personality disorder, Personality Disorder Service, Somerset Partnership Trust, Yeovil, Somerset

Jane Yeandle and colleagues outline an approach staff can use to address harmful behaviour that focuses on the patient’s relationships

People diagnosed with personality disorders often present a high risk to themselves and others, particularly in mental health inpatient settings. In general, a procedural approach to risk management is adopted. While not without merit, this sort of approach can become something ‘done to’ service users and may even contribute to the escalation of risky behaviour. With reference to a case study, this article outlines a complementary approach to the assessment and management of risk, developed with an emphasis on relationships and recovery. The benefits of this approach for patients, families and staff are discussed.

Mental Health Practice. 17, 2, 21-23. doi: 10.7748/mhp2013.10.17.2.21.e824

Correspondence

PDService@sompar.nhs.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Received: 11 November 2012

Accepted: 08 July 2013

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