Brief psychoeducation for people with personality disorder: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The Patients' Charter for Mental Health Services (DOH, 1997) states that a patient is entitled to both know and understand his or her diagnosis. Despite this, personality disordered clients are not always well informed about their disorder. Some will not be told their diagnosis because of concern that to do so would damage the therapeutic alliance.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the therapeutic alliance is not compromised by engaging in a psychoeducation programme that informs about personality disorder.


METHODS
Pilot study, pre-post design.


METHODS
Eighteen forensic in-patients and 16 community out-patients separately participated in a 4-session individual programme that focused on personality, personality disorder, and their own diagnosis. Understanding of these concepts was explored in a brief structured interview. Therapeutic alliance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Agnew relationship measure.


RESULTS
For both samples, participation in the intervention resulted in a positive change in four of the five measured components of the therapeutic alliance. This change was rated more strongly by clients than therapists, and reached statistical significance for bond, partnership, and confidence subscales. Participants demonstrated improved knowledge of their disorder following the intervention, and all but one gave positive feedback.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypothesis and suggest the therapeutic relationship is not impaired when a diagnosis of personality disorder is imparted using this psychoeducation programme.
Banerjee
Penelope
P
East Midlands Centre for Forensic Mental Health, Leicester, UK. penny.banerjee@nottshc.nhs.uk
Duggan
Conor
C
Huband
Nick
N
Watson
Neil
N
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D004739:England; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D011340:Problem Solving; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D014342:Truth Disclosure