Attitudes towards patients with a diagnosis of ‘borderline personality disorder’: Social rejection and dangerousness

Abstract

Background: Social stigma has long been associated with mental illness labels, however few studies have evaluated the labelling effects of the psychiatric diagnosis ‘borderline personality disorder’ (BPD).Aims: To evaluate the effects of the label BPD on staff attitudes and perceptions.Methods: Nursing staff completed questionnaires relating to three psychiatric label conditions; BPD, schizophrenia and depression. Measures of dangerousness, social distance, optimism for change and ratings of personal experiences were evaluated in a repeated measures factorial design, with staff qualification as the between-groups variable.Results: Registered Mental Health Nurses (RMNs) expressed less social rejection towards patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and perceived them to be less dangerous than patients with a BPD label. Health Care Assistants (HCAs) made no such distinctions on these measures. Staff were least optimistic about patients with a BPD diagnosis and were more negative about their experience of working with this group compared to the other patient groups.Conclusions: Staff were least optimistic about patients with a BPD label and were more negative about their experience of working with this group. Only RMNs distinguished between those with a BPD and schizophrenia label on measures of dangerousness and social distance. Explanations, clinical practice and the broader implications relating to mental health legislation are explored.Declaration of interest: None.