Consumer Perspective On BPD Management: How Are The National Health and Medical Research Council Borderline Personality Disorder Guidelines Faring In Practice?

Background: Many individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience increased levels of stigma are more likely to be viewed as manipulative and evoke negative responses from clinicians more frequently, compared with individuals with other mental health diagnoses. Objectives: This session aims to present understandings of the consumer perspective regarding BPD management, and how the National Health and Medical Research Council(NHMRC) BPD guidelines are faring in practice. Methods: Individuals who identified as having a BPD diagnosis completed a 75-question survey, delivered Australia-wide online via SurveyMonkey, in 2011 (N = 153),and again in 2017 (N = 424). Qualitative and quantitative data provided comparative data sets to evaluate changes over time in the consumer perspective of BPD management. Findings: Common themes emerged, highlighting the ongoing difficulty many people with BPD experience when seeking help. Delays in receiving a BPD diagnosis, inadequate explanations of BPD, dismissal by clinicians and multiple barriers to accessing appropriate services were some of the themes that persisted from 2011 to 2017. Of note is the shift from consumers primarily seeking support from psychiatrists in 2011 (76.2%, N = 80) to psychologists in 2017 (84.19%, N = 245).01_ANP836919.indd 112 08/04/2019 9:55:48 AMRANZCP Abstracts 113Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 53(S1)Conclusions: Consumers demonstrated increased health literacy and help seeking in 2017, primarily through online and consumer-led support groups, an understanding of which may provide an opportunity for psychiatrists to build a stronger therapeutic relationship with the person in their care. Limited explanations of BPD at time of diagnosis continued to prove problematic for consumers. Financial and physical barriers to accessing services also persisted. More focus on embedding the NHMRC guidelines into practice is needed.