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The use of inpatient services in patients with borderline personality disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Sinead O'Neill ,
Ruth Curran ,
Catherine Canning  and
Oscar Daly
Sinead O'Neill
Affiliation:
Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Ruth Curran
Affiliation:
Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Catherine Canning
Affiliation:
Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Oscar Daly*
Affiliation:
Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives: To examine why five patients with borderline personality disorder were contributing to a high bed occupancy and high staff turnover on a general adult psychiatry inpatient unit.

Method: A retrospective audit looking at these individuals' service pattern use for the two-year period between 2001–2003 was undertaken. A new admission policy was then introduced. The policy was that admissions were agreed, where possible, at consultant level and, if deemed unavoidable, were time limited. The audit cycle was repeated for the next two year period, 2003–2005 and a third audit cycle was then performed for the period 2005–2007.

Results: Following the new admission policy, there was a 95% reduction in bed days for this group. Untoward incidents by these individuals reduced by 93% and attendance at Accident and Emergency was also significantly reduced.

Conclusions: By limiting the frequency and length of admissions there was, unsurprisingly, a reduction in adverse incidents which lead to significant problems for patients and staff alike.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 192 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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