This study evaluated whether brief teaching sessions on transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) could improve psychiatric trainees’ attitudes and clinical confidence in managing patients with personality disorders. A mixed-methods design was used, combining pre- and post-training validated questionnaires with a focus group discussion. Two 4-h workshops covered TFP theory and techniques, and case discussions.

Twenty-six participants completed paired questionnaires. Statistically significant improvements were observed in overall attitudes (Attitudes to Personality Disorder Questionnaire total score, P = 0.022) and enthusiasm towards patients with personality disorders (P = 0.003). Clinical confidence (Clinical Confidence with Personality Disorder Questionnaire) improved markedly (P < 0.001). Qualitative analysis identified high acceptability, valuing TFP concepts and enhanced emotional awareness, although participants desired more practical components.

Even brief TFP training can positively influence trainees’ attitudes and confidence in treating personality disorders. Incorporating TFP-informed training into psychiatric education may reduce clinician frustration and improve therapeutic engagement with this complex patient group.

Despite overlapping diagnostic criteria and aetiology, the frequency of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) in people being treated for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is unknown.

To establish the frequency and correlates of probable C-PTSD in people meeting the diagnostic criteria and being treated for BPD.

C-PTSD was assessed in 87 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for BPD and initiating treatment in out-patient personality disorder services in the UK, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders diagnostic interview, items from the Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress – Self Report and other measures. The cross-sectional association between C-PTSD and demographics, trauma and clinical variables was evaluated with logistic, ordinal and linear regression.

A total of 93% of participants reported a trauma history (95% CI 88–98%), and 57% met the criteria for probable C-PTSD (95% CI 47–67%). Previous sexual trauma increased the odds of probable C-PTSD (odds ratio 6.22, 95% CI 2.21–17.54, P < 0.001). Probable C-PTSD was associated with an increased odds of self-harm in the past 12 months (odds ratio 9.41, 95% CI 1.87–47.27, P = 0.01) and higher levels of abandonment fears (odds ratio 2.78, 95% CI 1.17–6.55, P = 0.02), abandonment–avoidant behaviour (odds ratio 4.25, 95% CI 1.30–13.91, P = 0.02) and identity instability (odds ratio 4.39, 95% CI 1.79–10.78, P < 0.01).

C-PTSD symptoms are likely to be common in people diagnosed with BPD, and are associated with higher overall psychiatric severity, with potential implications for formulation and treatment.

The effects of pandemic-related restrictions on people in prisons who tend to have multiple complex health needs are not well understood.

We aimed to measure changes in adjudications and self-harm among people in prisons before and during the pandemic.

We examined effects of time and demographic characteristics on odds and counts of adjudications and self-harm over a three-year period, starting one year before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 861 individuals from 21 Offender Personality Disorder Pathway prison sites.

The odds of adjudicating were lower in people of older age (odds ratio 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96–0.99)), and during COVID-19 year one (odds ratio 0.37 (95% CI: 0.23–0.60)) and year two (odds ratio 0.40 (95% CI: 0.25–0.65)) compared to pre-COVID-19. Being of White ethnicity was associated with increased odds (odds ratio 4.42 (95% CI: 2.06–9.47)) and being older was associated with reduced odds (odds ratio 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99)) of self-harm. The odds of self-harm were significantly reduced during COVID-19 year two (odds ratio 0.45 (95% CI: 0.26–0.78)), but not during COVID-19 year one (odds ratio 0.68 (95% CI: 0.40–1.14)), compared with the 12 months before COVID-19.

Although adjudications and self-harm were generally lower during the pandemic, younger people showed increased odds of adjudications and self-harm compared with older people, while White people showed increased odds of self-harm compared with people of the global majority. Our findings highlight the importance of considering potential health inequities and environmental effects of lockdowns for people in prisons.

Providing psychotherapy at 50 sessions in a year (starting twice weekly) led to faster and greater improvements in depression and personality functioning compared to 25 sessions, starting weekly for patients with depression and personality disorder (PD). This study reports long-term dosage effects at 18 and 24 months.

In a pragmatic, double-randomized clinical trial, 246 outpatients with depression and PD were assigned to (1) 25 or 50 sessions and (2) Short-term Psychodynamic Supportive Psychotherapy (SPSP) or Schema Therapy (ST). Depression severity was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Secondary outcomes included diagnostic remission of depression (MINI-plus), PD (SCID-II/SCID-5-P), and treatment-specific measures. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.

At 18 and 24 months, BDI-II means did not differ between dosage groups (19.0 for 25 sessions versus 19.1 for 50 sessions; d = −0.01; 95% CI = −0.35-0.37, p = 0.96). The lower-dosage group improved during follow-up (−2.6 BDI points, p = 0.031), which may be partly attributed to additional therapy received by a subgroup. Remission rates at 24 months were 66% for depression and 76% for PD, with no differences between conditions.

Higher psychotherapy dosage led to faster initial improvements, but long-term outcomes were not superior to those achieved with a lower dosage. These results should be interpreted with caution, as unregulated treatment during follow-up reduced the power to detect significant dosage effects. Both SPSP and ST provide viable alternatives to treatments focused solely on depression.

Despite uncertain benefits, antidepressants are used in the management of personality disorders (PDs). We investigated the association between antidepressants and two adverse outcomes - suicidal behaviour and violent crimes - in individuals with PDs.

We used nationwide Danish healthcare registries to identify all individuals with a diagnosed PD aged 18–64 years from 2007 to 2016. Antidepressant use was identified using dispensed prescriptions. Individuals were followed up for healthcare presentations of suicidal behaviour and separately for police-recorded charges of violent crimes. We applied a within-individual design comparing rates of suicidal behaviour and violent crimes during time periods of antidepressant treatment with periods without treatment. Subgroup analyses were performed according to PD clusters, individual antidepressants, specific PDs, psychiatric comorbidities, and history of suicidal behaviour and violent crime.

The cohort included 167,319 individuals with a diagnosed PD, 19,519 (12%) of whom were prescribed antidepressants and presented at least one outcome event during follow-up, making them eligible for within-individual analyses. Overall, we found an association with lower rates of suicidal behavior during periods of antidepressant treatment, compared with periods when individuals were not on antidepressants (incidence rate ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.84–0.89). However, this association was modified by specific PDs, individual antidepressants, comorbidities, and past history. For violent crimes, we did not observe consistent associations in any direction.

Antidepressants were associated with lower rates of suicidal behaviour, but less clearly in violent crimes. Types of PDs, individual antidepressants, and comorbidities modified these associations.

There is no clear evidence about how to support people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the perinatal period. Perinatal emotional skills groups (ESGs) may be helpful, but their efficacy has not been tested.

To test the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of perinatal ESGs for women and birthing people with BPD.

Two-arm parallel-group feasibility RCT. We recruited people from two centres, aged over 18 years, meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for BPD, who were pregnant or within 12 months of a live birth. Eligible individuals were randomly allocated on a 1:1 ratio to ESGs + treatment as usual (TAU), or to TAU. Outcomes were assessed at 4 months post randomisation.

A total of 100% of the pre-specified sample (n = 48) was recruited over 6 months, and we obtained 4-month outcome data on 92% of randomised participants. In all, 54% of participants allocated to perinatal ESGs attended 75% of the full group treatment (median number of sessions: 9 (interquartile range 6–11). At 4 months, levels of BPD symptoms (adjusted coefficient −2.0, 95% CI −6.2 to 2.1) and emotional distress (−2.4, 95% CI −6.2 to 1.5) were lower among those allocated to perinatal ESGs. The directionality of effect on well-being and social functioning also favoured the intervention. The cost of delivering perinatal ESGs was estimated to be £918 per person.

Perinatal ESGs may represent an effective intervention for perinatal women and birthing people with BPD. Their efficacy should be tested in a fully powered RCT, and this is a feasible undertaking.

ISRCTN80470632.