Ameliorating Patient Stigma Amongst Staff Working With Personality Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial of Self-Management Versus Skills Training.
BACKGROUND
Patients diagnosed with a personality disorder (PD) are often stigmatized by the healthcare staff who treat them.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare the impact on front-line staff of a self-management Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based training intervention (ACTr) with a knowledge- and skills-based Dialectical Behaviour Training intervention (DBTr).


METHODS
A service-based randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing the effects of 2-day ACTr (N = 53) and DBTr (N = 47) staff workshops over 6 months. Primary outcome measures were staff attitudes towards patients and staff-patient relationships.


RESULTS
For both interventions, staff attitudes, therapeutic relationship, and social distancing all improved pre- to postintervention, and these changes were maintained at 6-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Although offering different resources to staff, both ACTr and DBTr were associated with an improved disposition towards PD patients. Future research could evaluate a combined approach, both for staff working with PD patients and those working with other stigmatized groups.
Bournemouth University,UK.
Sue
S
Clarke
University of Southampton,UK.
Georgina
G
Taylor
University of Southampton,UK.
Helen
H
Bolderston
St Ann's Hospital,Poole,UK.
Joanna
J
Lancaster
University of Southampton,UK.
Bob
B
Remington
D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011231:Preceptorship; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT); Personality disorder; acceptance; stigma; training