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15 - Personality disorder in parents: developmental perspectives and intervention

from Part III - Specific disorders: the impact on parent–child relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2009

By
Gwen Adshead ,
Adrian Falkov  and
Michael Göpfert
Edited by
Michael Göpfert ,
Jeni Webster  and
Mary V. Seeman
Michael Göpfert
Affiliation:
Webb House Democratic Therapeutic Community, Crewe
Jeni Webster
Affiliation:
5 Boroughs Partnership, Warrington
Mary V. Seeman
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Summary

Introduction

Both personality disorder and parental inability to meet children's needs have their origins, at least in part, in the quality of early experiences. Where individuals engaged in the constellation of disruptive behaviours and interpersonal role and relationship difficulties associated with personality disorder also have child-care responsibilities, the implications for the well-being and safety of children will be considerable. For individuals with severe relationship difficulties who are, or become, parents, that key life transition will have profound implications for themselves as individuals, as partners and as parents. Personality disorder itself presents considerable diagnostic, risk management and therapeutic challenges for (mental) health, social care and criminal justice systems because of the diverse and competing needs of parents and children which challenge the existing separateness of the various adult and children's services.

This chapter will use two theoretical frameworks, attachment theory and role relationships, to examine the concept of personality disorder, and how/why personality disorder interferes with ‘good enough’ parenting. These frameworks will also be used to describe implications for assessment and therapeutic interventions. This includes use of alternative care provision for children within the public sector.

Background issues and definitions

Personality disorder (PD) is defined by DSM–IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) as: ‘Behaviours or traits that are characteristic of the person's recent and long-term functioning. The behaviours and traits must be sufficient to cause impairment of functioning or subjective distress.’

Keywords

attachment theorychildrenparental inabilityparentspersonality disordertherapeutic interventions
Type
Chapter
Information
Parental Psychiatric Disorder
Distressed Parents and their Families
 , pp. 217 - 238
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

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