title: Is contact with adult mental health services helpful for individuals with a diagnosable BPD? A study of service users views in the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research in the UK has suggested that individuals with a diagnosable borderline personality disorder (BPD) have often found contact with adult mental health services unhelpful. In 2003, UK government guidance outlined how services might address this issue. Since this guidance, there has been little research that seeks to understand services users' experiences of services and provide information about how services might improve.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of individuals with a diagnosis of BPD in accessing adult mental health services and to better understand which aspects of contact with services can be helpful or unhelpful.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine service users with a diagnosable BPD were recruited through voluntary sector services in England. Semi-structured interviews were used and interview data was analysed using an inductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes were generated including "The diagnostic process influences how service users feel about BPD", "Non-caring care" and "It's all about the relationship".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The participants' accounts identify a number of practical points which services could implement to improve the experiences of service users.
authors.affiliation: Tameside and Glossop Psychological Therapies Service, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust , Greater Manchester , UK .
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Nic
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alwin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: BPD; Borderline personality disorder; service users; thematic analysis