Qualitative findings from a mixed methods evaluation of once-weekly therapeutic community day services for people with personality disorder.
BACKGROUND
This paper presents qualitative findings from a mixed methods study of four one-day-a-week therapeutic communities (TCs) in the north of England for people with personality disorder. Quantitative findings from the study are presented separately.


OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to ascertain whether one-day-a-week TCs can be effective in addressing the problems associated with personality disorder.


METHODS
The qualitative component of the study comprised semi-structured interviews with service users, service user consultants, staff and referrers. This paper reports findings from the interviews with service users.


RESULTS
The qualitative findings indicate underlying changes in thinking that may account for some of the measurable changes in members' mental health and functioning reported in the quantitative findings. In particular, the services enable individuals to address two main problem areas: relating to others and self-harm.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that once-weekly TCs provide an effective therapeutic approach to the problems associated with personality disorder.
Hodge
Suzanne
S
Health and Community Care Research Unit, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, UK. smh@liv.ac.uk
Barr
Wally
W
Göpfert
Michael
M
Hellin
Kate
K
Horne
Alan
A
Kirkcaldy
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013808:Therapeutic Community; D016896:Treatment Outcome