References
A brief guide to borderline personality disorder for pre-hospital clinicians in an emergency setting
Abstract
Paramedics and ambulance staff are frequently in contact with patients with mental health diagnoses, whether this is the primary reason for contacting the emergency services, e.g. self-harm, crisis or suicide ideation; or, incidental to their primary clinical concern. Patients in mental health crisis can be challenging and demanding. Most paramedics will not have had specific guidance on identifying or understanding the features, aetiology and responses to treatment of patients with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder is associated with a high risk of self-harm, risk-taking behaviour and suicide. Building a rapport with patients is often crucial to paramedics achieving optimum patient care. There are features of borderline personality disorder that may make rapport building more complex, and the establishment of trust harder for the clinician to achieve and maintain. There is potential for frustration and a lack of understanding to interfere with patient-centred care. In order to support patients with borderline personality disorder, ambulance staff need to be aware of the particular characteristics of this condition and the current best practice guidance.
Mental health problems are common within our society, with one in four experiencing problems in their lifetime (Rethink Mental Illness, 2015). Depression is listed as the second most likely reason that people visit their GP after respiratory problems (McCormick, 1995; Ustun and Sartorius, 1995). NHS England (2014) estimate that mental health costs the NHS £100 billion each year. As the majority of patients seek help in primary care situations, it is likely that ambulance staff will have frequent contact with patients presenting with mental health problems, particularly those in crisis. There is a higher incidence of borderline personality disorder in the the clinical population and it has been found to be four times higher in those attending primary care, indicating likely and frequent contact with GPs (Leichsenring et al, 2011).
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