Mentalising skills in generic mental healthcare settings: can we make our day-to-day interactions more therapeutic?

Welstead, H.J., Patrick, J., Russ, T.C., Cooney, G., Mulvenna, C.M., Maclean, C. and Polnay, A. (2018) Mentalising skills in generic mental healthcare settings: can we make our day-to-day interactions more therapeutic? BJPsych Bulletin, 42(3), pp. 102-108. (doi: 10.1192/bjb.2017.29) (PMID:29681246)

Abstract

Aims and method: Caring for patients with personality disorder is one of the biggest challenges in psychiatric work. We investigated whether mentalisation-based treatment skills (MBT-S) teaching improves clinicians' understanding of mentalising and attitudes towards personality disorder. Self-report questionnaires (Knowledge and Application of MBT (KAMQ) and Attitudes to Personality Disorder (APDQ)) were completed at baseline and after a 2-day MBT-S workshop. Results: Ninety-two healthcare professionals completed questionnaires before and after training. The mean within-participant increase in scores from baseline to end-of-programme was 11.6 points (95% CI 10.0-13.3) for the KAMQ and 4.0 points (1.8-6.2) for the APDQ. Clinical implications: MBT-S is a short intervention that is effective in improving clinicians' knowledge of personality disorder and mentalisation. That attitudes to personality disorder improved overall is encouraging in relation to the possibility of deeper learning in staff and, ultimately, improved care for patients with personality disorder. Declaration of interest: None.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mulvenna, Dr Catherine
• Authors: Welstead, H.J., Patrick, J., Russ, T.C., Cooney, G., Mulvenna, C.M., Maclean, C., and Polnay, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Journal Name: BJPsych Bulletin
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 2056-4708
• ISSN (Online): 2056-4694
• Published Online: 23 April 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in BJPsych Bulletin 42(3): 102-108
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License