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What do people in forensic secure and community settings think of their personality disorder diagnosis? A qualitative study

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of having a personality disorder diagnosis within the context of forensic secure and community services.

Methods

We used an interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse interviews with 10 service users purposively recruited from services in South London.

Results

Participants described two facets of their lived experience: (1) the way they see themselves now, in light of their offending and social background and (2) the pejorative nature of the personality disorder label, its relationship to mental illness and their need to distance themselves from it.

Conclusions

Having a forensic identity affects participants’ perceptions of their diagnosis and its treatment as well as their views about themselves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Health Research, University College London (UCL), London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Georgia Black

  2. Health Services and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Graham Thornicroft & Joanna Murray

Authors
  1. Georgia Black
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  2. Graham Thornicroft
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  3. Joanna Murray
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Correspondence to Georgia Black.

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Black, G., Thornicroft, G. & Murray, J. What do people in forensic secure and community settings think of their personality disorder diagnosis? A qualitative study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1161–1168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0616-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0616-4

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