Helping OTs Support Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder
16 November 2010
Image courtesy of Rampton Hospital and shows one of the entrances to the hospital.
Occupational therapists will achieve greater success in supporting patients who have borderline personality disorder if they foster 'therapeutic relationships' with them - according to new research.
Professional relationships which nurture communication and respect will in turn generate empathy towards such patients, however challenging the situation.
That is the view of occupational therapist Leigh Wright who has studied existing academic literature and drawn on her own student placement experience at Rampton Hospital.
The University of Derby student secured top marks for her final dissertation and has now secured a full-time post at Rampton Hospital where she hopes to champion the benefit of 'therapeutic relationships' in her OT work.
She said: "There is real value in developing therapeutic relationships between occupational therapists and patients with borderline personality disorder - despite their sometimes difficult and challenging interactions.
"The focus is around developing professional relationships with the long-term goal of developing a trusted level of understanding."
Leigh suggests OTs who embrace the concept of therapeutic relationships generate more empathy with clients, who in turn respond more favourably to the sessions. She further suggests it can even be more effective in supporting patients than standard psychotherapeutic approaches which rely more on technique for interpersonal change.
Leigh's initial 11-week placement at Rampton, in the second year of her degree, saw her take part in cooking, woodwork and other therapeutic workshops with patients with severe personality disorders.
She said: "It was quite challenging and difficult at times as the patients had some very challenging behaviour. I think having a deeper focus on the therapeutic relationship is crucial for this client group and I hope to incorporate it into my future practice."
Her study, entitled: 'The potential value of the therapeutic alliance when working with adults with borderline personality disorder - an occupational therapy perspective' was welcomed by her University tutor and senior lecturer Les Sloan.
Les said: "Leigh's study takes a therapeutic focus appropriate to individuals who can struggle with their self identity. The strength of Leigh's work being it is written in a style that evaluates how individuals with borderline personality may think, feel and behave. I believe that her study will contribute to the evidence based advanced student to senior practitioner."
Leigh graduates with First Class Honours at the University's Annual Awards Ceremonies in January, and hopes her study can lead to further research in this area.
Rampton Hospital cares for approximately 380 patients with learning disabilities, mental illness or personality disorder who are detained under the Mental Health Act and are deemed to require conditions of high security.
The Hospital is managed by Nottinghamshire Healthcare, one of the largest providers of mental health and learning disability services in the country.
For more information contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email: s.redfern@derby.ac.uk
