Improving Access, Treatment and Support for People with a Diagnosis of Personality Disorder

About 1 in 16 worldwide have at some point been given a diagnosis of personality disorder and it is a diagnosis which is particularly common among patients attending general and psychiatric hospitals.Many are regular attenders in general practice. In the prison population, it is estimated that between 60 and 70% have met the diagnostic criteria of a personality disorder compared to people who have not been given a diagnosis of personality disorder, men and women with this label live considerably shortened lives (18 years shorter for men and 19 years shorter for women).The shockingly elevated death rate appears to be due to those given this diagnostic label having a raised risk of ‘unnatural deaths’ (suicide, homicide and accidents) as well as ‘natural’ causes of death (such as infections, or cardiovascular disease).The NHS has not adequately met the complex needs of people given a diagnostic label of personality disorder.

This consensus statement is a call to action to stop the appalling treatment which people given a diagnosis of Personality Disorder too often experience.It is intolerable that the services we offer do not meet the needs of this group of people, when small changes could make such a difference.This report offers some important suggestions which offer hope to these people.It is vital that government and the NHS grasps the urgency of this.

Read on healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk

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