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Challenges and Gaps in the Diagnosis of Personality Disorders in Older Adults: A Review of Current Practices in a UK Mental Health Trust

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2024

Christina Barmpagianni*
Affiliation:
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, United Kingdom
Jemma Arrow
Affiliation:
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, United Kingdom
Neelima Reddi
Affiliation:
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, United Kingdom
Tamsin Brownell
Affiliation:
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, United Kingdom
Ramin Nilforooshan
Affiliation:
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, United Kingdom
*
*Presenting author.
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Abstract

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Aims

Personality disorders (PDs) involve persistent deviations from societal norms causing distress, particularly in older UK adults. ICD–11 distinguishes general personality dysfunction from traits. Despite a low reported prevalence among the elderly, underdiagnosis and undertreatment are concerns, suggesting higher actual prevalence. PD presentations in older adults differ, with increasing prevalence noted. Existing research lacks large-scale, population-based studies, longitudinal perspectives, and diagnostic tools sensitive to age-related changes. Overlapping symptoms and delayed diagnosis challenge accurate assessment, while misdiagnosis can lead to repeat hospitalisations.

A UK mental health organisation observed such issues, prompting a diagnostic pathway review and a service evaluation study to identify healthcare professionals' challenges in diagnosing personality disorders in older adults.

Methods

An online survey, conducted from January to March 2023, targeted healthcare professionals in the Trust. It gathered demographic data and focused on professionals' knowledge, and confidence in diagnosing personality disorders, along with limitations and suggestions for improvement. Responses were qualitative, involving community mental health team managers, doctors, healthcare assistants, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists. Results, collected in March 2023, aimed to provide detailed insights into professionals' experiences with PDs when treating older adults.

Results

Among 35 surveyed professionals (15 Consultant Psychiatrists, 2 community team managers, 6 nurses, 1 occupational therapist, 2 psychologists, and 9 junior doctors), 75% routinely conducted personality disorder assessments. They lacked specific diagnostic tools, relying on history and ICD–10/DSM–5 criteria. Confidence levels varied, with only 1 reporting high confidence and 37% not confident at all, citing a need for training and structured tools. Challenges in diagnosing older adults were acknowledged by 34 responders, attributing difficulties to comorbidities and ageing. All emphasised the importance of accurate diagnosis for tailored therapy, care, service workload, and healthcare financial implications.

Conclusion

Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of personality disorders in older adults impact their quality of life, posing challenges to healthcare services with financial implications. This local survey and service evaluation study revealed healthcare professionals' lower confidence in diagnosing PDs in older adults, attributed to the complexity of presentation and lack of diagnostic tools. Professionals may underestimate PD prevalence, emphasizing the need for improved education and training. The review calls for validated diagnostic tools tailored to older adults and suggests a need for larger-scale, mixed-methods research to explore factors affecting diagnosis accuracy. It underscores gaps in knowledge and emphasises the importance of understanding and addressing PDs in this population through research, education of professionals, and improved screening.

Type
4 Service Evaluation
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists

Footnotes

Abstracts were reviewed by the RCPsych Academic Faculty rather than by the standard BJPsych Open peer review process and should not be quoted as peer-reviewed by BJPsych Open in any subsequent publication.

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