Borderline Personality Disorder: A review of the use of the BSL-23 measure and an experimental study of detention decision-making by Approved Mental Health Professionals under the Mental Health Act.

Wolak, Milena (2025) Borderline Personality Disorder: A review of the use of the BSL-23 measure and an experimental study of detention decision-making by Approved Mental Health Professionals under the Mental Health Act. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Background: Negative attitudes, biases and stigma towards the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) have been reported since the term ‘borderline’ originated. There is evidence that mental health professionals continue to hold negative attitudes, which lead to suboptimal treatment to clients with BPD. Research has attempted to look at factors which might be contributing to these stigmatised attitudes and what might help to look beyond the diagnosis.

Design: This thesis portfolio consists of the following components: (1) an introduction to the topic, (2) a systematic review examining the applications of a standardised measure used for measuring the symptomology of BPD – the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23), (3) a bridging chapter, (4) a quantitative empirical research into decision-making of Approved Mental Health Professionals regarding detention of individuals diagnoses with BPD, compared to Complex-Trauma or no-stated diagnosis, (5) an additional methods and (6) a discussion and critical evaluation.

Results: The systematic result found two main applications of the BSL-23, symptom identification and enhancement of understanding BPD symptomology. There was an underrepresentation of gender and non-European countries. The empirical paper found no significant relationship between choice of detention and experimental condition (a manipulation on the vignette’s diagnosis), with the only significant factor predicting detention being appraisal of risk to self. Significant predictors of an increased likelihood for detention were greater appraisals of risk to self and negative attitudes towards personality disorder.

Conclusion: The findings of the two papers indicate that biases and inconsistencies continue to be seen within the study and treatment of clients diagnosed with BPD. The influence of appropriate treatment due to attitudes in professional groups may vary and the extent to its effect should be studied further.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	30 Oct 2025 10:23
Last Modified:	30 Oct 2025 10:23
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100853
DOI:

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