Borderline Personality Disorder Needs Assessment Survey

[David Baxter PhD]

FBPDA Needs Assessment Survey
Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association
November 23, 2008

Several months ago we surveyed 27 persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or who engaged in self-injury and are living in or attending school full-time in Florida. Below you?ll find the results of a few of the questions that were asked.

We were most interested in the response to our last question: Which of the following treatments or supports do you think may help you in your recovery from BPD? The top answers?

1. An opportunity to speak with or listen to persons in recovery from BPD
2. Working with a mental health professional who understands BPD
3. Help in finding meaning in my life.

If you would like a copy of the full survey or have any questions, please contact us at amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

Summary of the survey:

Are you male or female?

• male 0.0%
• female 100.0%

How old are you?

• between ages 17 and 21. 18.5%
• between the ages of 22 and 26. 14.8%
• between the ages of 27 and 35. 33.3%
• over the age of 36. 33.3%

Have you been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), BPD traits, self-injury, or have you diagnosed yourself using DSM-IV-TR criteria?

• Yes, I?ve been diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional with BPD. 59.3%
• Yes, I?ve been diagnosed with having traits of BPD and/or selfinjury. 22.2%
• No, I have received a diagnosis other than BPD or was treated without being given a diagnosis. 0.0%
• No, I have diagnosed myself. 11.1%
• I?ve never met with a mental health professional and do not know if I have BPD. 7.4%

If you have been given a diagnosis of BPD by a licensed mental health professional, were you also given information about the disorder such as causes, explanations of symptoms, treatment options, prognosis, etc.?

• Yes, my licensed mental health professional took a lot of time educating me about BPD. 14.8%
• Yes, my licensed mental health professional took some time in educating me and gave me some resources about BPD. 18.5%
• No, my licensed mental health professional did not educate me about BPD but is open to answering questions when I ask. 14.8%
• No, my licensed mental health professional did not educate me about BPD. 22.2%
• I knew everything about BPD that I wanted to know before I received the diagnosis. 7.4%
• Not applicable. 22.2%

Are you currently in treatment for BPD?

• Yes 33.3%
• No 66.7%

Is the treatment you are currently receiving for BPD effective?

• Yes, I feel a lot better since receiving treatment. 25.0%
• Yes, I feel a little better since receiving treatment. 12.5%
• It?s difficult for me to tell if treatment is helping. 8.3%
• No, treatment is not working for me at this time. 12.5%
• No, I am feeling worse since starting treatment. 0.0%
• It?s too early for me to tell if treatment is helping. 4.2%
• I don?t know. 37.5%

How confident do you feel about your opportunity to recover from BPD?

• I believe that I am in recovery. 11.1%
• I feel very confident of recovery due to the treatment I am currently receiving. 7.4%
• I feel relatively confident that I will recover from BPD. 0.0% 0
• Sometimes I think that I will recover and other times I?m not certain. 22.2%
• I think that I could recover if I had access to a wider range of mental health services and/or treatments. 22.2%
• I think that I could recover if I had more support from my family and friends. 3.7%
• I?m doubtful that I will recover from BPD. 11.1%
• I don?t know. 22.2%

How often to do feel suicidal or think about suicide?

• I am currently planning suicide. 3.7%
• I think a lot about suicide but am not currently not planning to attempt suicide. 22.2%
• I usually feel suicidal. 7.4%
• Sometimes I feel suicidal. 29.6%
• Only rarely do I feel suicidal. 29.6%
• I have never felt suicidal. 7.4%

Which of the following treatments or supports do you think may help you in your recovery from BPD? (Please choose as many answers as you?d like.)

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. 59.3%
• Mentalization-Based Treatment. 18.5%
• Psychoanalysis. 25.9%
• Logotherapy. 0.0%
• Transference-Focused Psychotherapy. 11.1%
• Schema-Focused Therapy. 11.1%
• Marital or family therapy. 33.3%
• In-patient hospitalization (up to 1 month). 18.5%
• In-patient hospitalization (for more than 1 month). 11.1%
• Better or different medications. 40.7%
• An opportunity to speak with or listen to persons in recovery from BPD. 63.0%
• Greater family support. 37.0%
• Greater support from my spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner. 29.6%
• Day treatment. 29.6%
• A safe place to go to when I am in crisis that is not a hospital. 37.0%
• A hotline for when I?m in crisis. 25.9%
• Working with a mental health professional who understands BPD. 63.0%
• Support and encouragement from mental health professional who really wants to help me recover. 37.0%
• Working with a mental health professional I can respect and trust. 55.6%
• Support on campus (high school or college). 18.5%
• Support at my job. 11.1%
• Better housing. 11.1%
• Legal assistance from someone who understands BPD. 11.1%
• More opportunities in my community to learn about BPD. 40.7%
• Access to recent scientific research about BPD. 40.7%
• Opportunities to volunteer. 22.2%
• Help in finding meaning in my life. 63.0%
• Daily living skills (shopping, billpaying, housekeeping, etc.). 25.9%
• Friends to call or e-mail. 44.4%
• Substance-abuse treatment (including AA or NA). 18.5%
• Opportunities to express myself creatively. 40.7%