Quantitative findings from a mixed methods evaluation of once-weekly therapeutic community day services for people with personality disorder

Abstract

Background: Quantitative findings are presented from a mixed methods study of four one-day-a-week therapeutic communities for people with personality disorder (qualitative findings from the same study are reported in a separate paper). The evaluation assessed both the clinical efficacy of the model and its acceptability to service users, service employees and those who refer clients to the services.

Aims: The study aimed to clarify whether one-day therapeutic communities can be effective for people with personality disorder.

Method: Changes in the functioning of service users who attended the day services were assessed every 12 weeks for up to 1 year.

Results: We found significant improvements in both the mental health and social functioning of service users. Changes in patterns of self-harm and service use were suggestive of possible underlying improvements but failed to reach significance levels. We also found evidence of the possible offset of costs within 16 months of an individual leaving one of the services.

Conclusions: This study suggests one-day therapeutic communities may be both clinically- and cost-effective for people with personality disorder.

Keywords:

• Personality disorder
• day services
• one-day per week
• therapeutic communities

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted by an independent research unit that has no formal links with Therapeutic Community Service North. The research team would like to express their thanks to all who took part – service users, service user consultants, staff members and referrers.

Declaration of interest: This study was funded by Therapeutic Community Service North, which was decommissioned in 2007 and finally closed in March 2008. Two of the co-authors were employed by Therapeutic Community Service North at the start of the study in 2005 but they no longer have a financial interest in it.