Personality Disorders and Overseas Missions: Guidelines for the Mental Health Professional

Abstract

Mental health care professionals are in a unique position to advise mission organizations in the selection process. This is especially the case in helping newer inexperienced boards avoid overseas placement of personality disordered individuals. The article reviews specific personality disorders and their impact in the overseas setting. The dilemma of compassion vs. administrative wisdom is addressed. Suggestions are included to help missions refine selection policies using the MMPI, understanding its limits, using occupational history review, personal interviews, and individual follow-up on letters of recommendation. The article is not intended to be a handbook for the selection process, but to call attention to an often neglected area of psychopathology that needs to be addressed in the screening evaluation.

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