Adolescents' experiences of a therapeutic inpatient service utilising mentalization-based treatment for borderline personality disorder features

The present study aimed to investigate adolescents’ experiences of a therapeutic inpatient service utilising mentalization-based treatment (MBT) for borderline personality disorder (BPD) features, including deliberate self-harm. A qualitative research approach was chosen and eight adolescents were interviewed on their experiences. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA; Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009). The analysis resulted in five superordinate themes and 17 corresponding subordinate themes. Adolescents described having felt uncontained, uncontainable and misunderstood, particularly prior to their admission. They talked about a process of seeking containment from others which in some cases led to their admission. Participants described feeling contained and understood in the inpatient service and developing a healthier relationship with self and others. Finally, they talked about their recovery as a long and challenging journey and expressed hope for the future. The study concluded that therapeutic inpatient treatment utilising MBT was experienced as beneficial by adolescents, though methodological limitations were acknowledged. Clinical implications were drawn and recommendations for future research were made.