Cognitive remediation therapy: is it a feasible and acceptable psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder?

Abstract

Objective

Cognitive remediation (CR) is increasingly being used to address the cognitive impairment that can occur in people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study aimed to understand attitudes towards CR in this service user group from the perspective of the person with the diagnosis and clinicians involved in their care.

Method

Anonymous online surveys were made available to people with a diagnosis of BPD in a public mental health service and clinicians of the same service.

Results

Thirty-three percent of service users with a diagnosis of BPD responded to the survey. Most respondents (93%) expressed a desire to improve their cognition and were interested in cognitive remediation therapy (83%). Most staff (88%) recognised cognitive impairment can occur in people with a diagnosis of BPD and the same proportion believed cognitive skills impact on patient’s emotional and mental health. Seventy percent of respondents believed CR would be useful for this service user group.

Conclusions

It is important that interventions to address the cognitive impairment associated with BPD are made available and that they are well integrated into the person’s overall care plan.