Personality disorder in parents: developmental perspectives and intervention

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511543838.017

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

Adrian Falkov and

Edited by

Jeni Webster and

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 theory children parental inability parents personality disorder therapeutic interventions

Type: Chapter
Information: Parental Psychiatric Disorder
Distressed Parents and their Families
, pp. 217 - 238

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543838.017 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2004

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15 - Personality disorder in parents: developmental perspectives and intervention

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