Clarke, S., Taylor, G., Bolderston, H., Lancaster, J., & Remington, B. (2015). Ameliorating patient stigma amongst staff working with personality disorder: Randomized controlled trial of self-management versus skills training. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 43, 692-704. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465814000320
Background
Patients diagnosed with a personality disorder (PD) are often stigmatised by the healthcare staff who treat them.
Aims
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).
Method
A service-based randomised 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 post-intervention, 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 stigmatised groups.