CAMHS Clinician Attitudes to Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescence Across Scotland

Abstract

Abstract Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) clinicians have been reported to hold negative views toward the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescence. We aimed to reevaluate with the expectation that recent advances have nurtured more positive attitudes. One hundred ninety clinicians working across CAMHS in Scotland completed a 16-item electronic survey of attitudes to BPD, derived from the Attitudes and Skills Questionnaire. Eighty-three percent of psychiatrists, 72% of nurses, and 37% of psychologists surveyed agreed that BPD is a valid diagnosis in adolescence, and 92%, 74%, and 44%, respectively, were willing to make this diagnosis. CAMHS clinicians were more optimistic compared with clinicians working in adult mental health services. CAMHS clinicians' responses may indicate increased acceptance of BPD in the adolescent population. There is a thirst for workforce education and training. Consideration should be taken to actively move the focus of identification and diagnosis of BPD into CAMHS rather than the current culture of late diagnosis.