Bridging the Gap in Community Care for Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: Protocol for Qualitative Inquiry Into Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Perspectives on Service Gaps and Potential Solutions for Severe Emotion Dysregulation

Laura Friesen; Graham Gaine; Ellen Klaver; Kirsten Klingle; Devashree Parmar; Marianne Hrabok; Jill Kelland; Shireen Surood; Vincent Agyapong

doi:10.2196/14885

Bridging the Gap in Community Care for Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: Protocol for Qualitative Inquiry Into Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Perspectives on Service Gaps and Potential Solutions for Severe Emotion Dysregulation

JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Aug 20;9(8):e14885. doi: 10.2196/14885.

Authors

Laura Friesen^{1

2}, Graham Gaine^{1

2

3}, Ellen Klaver¹, Kirsten Klingle², Devashree Parmar², Marianne Hrabok^{3

4}, Jill Kelland², Shireen Surood², Vincent Agyapong^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
² Addictions and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁴ Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

PMID: 32815818
PMCID: PMC7471890
DOI: 10.2196/14885

Abstract

Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by severe emotion dysregulation that is often complicated by comorbid diagnoses, deliberate self-harm, and chronic suicidal ideation. Unfortunately, current care pathways for individuals with BPD are strained by limited resources, inadequate training, and an overuse of emergency departments and crisis teams. Such barriers result in delayed access to effective treatment, which increases risk of deterioration, disability, and morbidity. A first step toward addressing these limitations of the current care pathway is to understand key stakeholders' lived experiences in this pathway and their perspectives on potential solutions.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to present a protocol for a study that explores the lived experiences of the current care pathway from the perspectives of patients with BPD, as well as their caregivers and clinicians.

Methods: A qualitative approach is most appropriate for the exploratory nature of the research objective. Accordingly, 3 to 6 patients with a diagnosis of BPD, 3 caregivers of individuals with BPD, and 3 clinicians of patients diagnosed with BPD will be invited to participate in individual, semistructured interviews that focus on service experiences.

Results: It is anticipated that results will yield insight into the lived experiences of patients with BPD, caregivers, and clinicians and provide a better understanding of the perceived gaps in services and potential solutions. Results are expected to be available in 12 months.

Conclusions: This paper describes a protocol for a qualitative study that seeks to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of key stakeholders (patients, caregivers, and clinicians) on the current care pathway for BPD. Results will provide a basis for future research in this area and will have the potential to inform training, practice, and policy.

International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/14885.

Keywords: access; borderline personality disorder; care pathways; evaluation; health care quality; mental health services.

©Laura Friesen, Graham Gaine, Ellen Klaver, Kirsten Klingle, Devashree Parmar, Marianne Hrabok, Jill Kelland, Shireen Surood, Vincent Agyapong. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 20.08.2020.