Sharing innovation and practice in Personality Disorder
St Andrews Essex was pleased to invite clinicians and commissioners to a one day conference in May, the theme being adults with Personality Disorder: from commissioning to outcomes.
Personality Disorder has been targeted by the Government increasingly over the last decade in an effort to both ensure that the treatment needs of this service user group are met, as well as to protect the public from any risk posed by this group. This one-day national conference focussed on some of the key changes in clinical practice brought about by these Government initiatives, and explored how commissioners and service providers have responded to it.
Hosted by Professor Philip Sugarman, CEO and Medical Director for St Andrew’s Healthcare, with eminent speakers including Professor Eddie Kane, Director of the Personality Disorder Research Institute and Professor Jeremy Coid, Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Research Unit, the day attracted delegates from all over the UK.
Key themes of the day included areas commissioners should be focussing on when commissioning Personality Disorder services, the number of patients with Personality Disorder who pose a high risk to society, both within prisons and in hospitals, and what could be done about it, how particular services were designed to treat Personality Disorder including training initiatives, and how the new Mental Health Act may impact on the treatment of Personality Disorder.
Professor Jeremy Coid discussed the size of the problem and provided an epidemiological perspective on the whole issue of Personality Disorder and risk. He analysed the health, social and criminological effects of having a Personality Disorder. In order to address this effect, potential population interventions were considered. With regards to ‘treatability’ it was as always a contentious issue but it was recognised that there is today far more research taking place within this field, and this was welcomed.
The last part of the day focussed on three workshops run by St. Andrew’s staff, describing the St. Andrew’s treatment model for its personality disorder service, which drew excellent response and feedback from the attendees.
Overall, the event offered a great opportunity to contribute, network, and acquire a wealth of knowledge from experts in the field. To learn more about the detail of the day, all presenters have consented to make their slides available for the audience on the day as well as for people who could not attend.
You can request these presentations by emailing help@standrew.co.uk Please state which of the following you would be interested in receiving.
Presentations
Professor Eddie Kane, Director of the Personality Disorder Research Institute, University of Nottingham. The Knowledge and Understanding Framework.
Shaun Branegan, Forensic Case Manager, North East Specialist Mental Health & Learning Disabilities Unit. The principles, policies and development of the commissioning process for secure psychiatric patients.
Professor Jeremy Coid, Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Research Unit, Wolfson Institute for Preventative Medicine, raised the question of ‘Personality Disorder and Risk’.
Dr Celia Taylor, Head of the Personality Disorder Service, John Howard Centre, explained the development of personality disorder expertise and practice in light of the media and public attention to high profile offenders.
Ashley Irons, Capsticks Solicitors, tested the audience on their understanding of the practical changes brought about by the alterations to the Mental Health Act (MHA).
Workshops
Treatment Model for Male Personality Disorders within Low Security
Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder Female Patients Using DBT
Generation of Outcome Variables for Personality Disorder Treatment.