BEST for adolescent BPD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BEST for adolescent BPD (Brief Education Supported Treatment for adolescent Borderline Personality Disorder): a feasibility study of delivery of specialised early intervention for borderline personality disorder through collaboration with education providers, incorporating a feasibility randomised controlled trial’.
IRAS ID
250938
Contact name
Jon Wilson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study investigates a brief intervention that aims to equip education professionals with the knowledge and skills to support pupils with symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) who self-harm. Staff from participating schools and colleges will take part in a training workshop in preparation for co-delivering a series of 3 – 6 sessions to individual pupils from their institution together with a mental health professional. The intervention is designed to reduce BPD symptoms by decreasing the emotional instability at the heart of the disorder, both by: (a) delivering the key elements of evidence-based interventions for adolescent BPD at an early stage, before symptoms become entrenched, and (b) reducing the confusion and anxiety that often surrounds young people with BPD who self-harm by equipping education professionals with the knowledge and skills to support pupils with BPD.
In the first stage of the study, we will use the findings of existing research to refine the intervention and pilot it within schools and colleges. In the second stage, to test whether it will be possible to evaluate the effects of the intervention in a fair and unbiased way in a future trial, participants will be allocated at random to either receive the study intervention or standard care. Young people aged 13-18 years with symptoms of BPD including self-harm will be invited to take part and, if they consent, will be screened to ensure the study is suitable for them. All participants will be offered an assessment of their mental health with a study research assistant on entry to the study and 8 and 24 weeks later. The results of the study will be shared with participating schools and colleges and will be used to inform the design of a future study evaluating whether the intervention leads to improved outcomes for young people.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0416
Date of REC Opinion
7 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion