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

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.