The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the well-being of clients of a specialist personality disorder service

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the well-being of people with severe borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the first wave of COVID-19 social restrictions.

Method

Clients of an outpatient specialist personality disorder clinic (n = 77) were invited to the study. An online survey was conducted including a range of open-ended questions exploring well-being and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) which assesses ‘coronaphobia’. Qualitative data were analysed using inductive content analysis with NVivo software. CAS data were analysed descriptively using SPSS version 25.

Results

Thirty-six surveys were completed (48% response rate). Many participants experienced significant challenges to their overall well-being during lockdown although some reported improvements in psychosocial functioning. Three participants (8.3%) experienced clinically significant ‘coronaphobia’.

Conclusion

The self-reported physical and mental health of participants with BPD demonstrated resilience, suggesting that the capacity to maintain treatment via telehealth helped to mitigate many of the adverse aspects of social restrictions. This study was conducted during the first wave of social restrictions; subsequent studies will reveal longer-term effects of extended community lockdowns.