Principles of managing patients with personality disorder

The management of individuals with personality disorder is one of the most challenging and sometimes controversial areas of psychiatry. This paper describes the principles involved in identifying the clinical problems and formulating a management plan for patients with personality disorder in everyday clinical practice. It demonstrates that the principles of assessing and managing personality disorders and the clinical skills required are no different from those of treating any other chronic mental disorder. Patients with personality disorder have multiple and diverse needs. Some present repeatedly to services. Although there are a number of difficulties in managing patients with personality disorder, their problems are easier to tackle if the patients are properly assessed, their individual needs identified and an appropriate plan formulated.