Mental health experts want to ban 'harmful' diagnosis for children

Mental health experts and medical professionals are calling on the health secretary for an immediate ban on diagnosing children and young people in the UK with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

In an open letter, initiated by former health minister Sir Norman Lamb and backed by organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, the British Psychological Society, and the Royal College of General Practitioners, over 1,000 verified signatories have made a compelling plea: "Children should not be diagnosed with a personality disorder in the UK."

The letter strongly recommends that medical practitioners completely discard the term "personal disorder" arguing that such "misleading" and "stigmatising" labels can cause more "harm and worse treatment" to patients. It also highlights the negative impact on "traumatised children" who may come to believe "they have deficits in their personality".

Although the letter acknowledges that up to 2% of the UK population could be classified as having BPD, it points out that mental health professionals widely regard the practice of labelling children with a personality disorder as ranging from "view labelling children with a personality disorder between abhorrent, unethical, harmful, dubious, but not least - controversial."

The letter also touches on the perception of patients with BPD, who are often seen as emotionally unstable or manipulative. Experts argue that this stigma is so entrenched among mental health staff that they might dismiss serious signs of self-harm or suicide, assuming the patient is exaggerating or seeking attention, reports the Express.

The letter highlights the "lived experiences" of BPD patients who have faced substandard care because of their diagnosis, including instances such as "having self-harm wounds stitched without anesthetic and being denied physical health care". Despite the high suicide risk associated with BPD, the letter cautions that labelling young people with this diagnosis suggests to healthcare professionals "they have a flawed personality" instead of acknowledging a severe mental illness that is often rooted in trauma.

The correspondence has garnered signatures from numerous respected medical professionals, including senior doctors, leading psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and mental health nurses and carers. They point out that although societal views on BPD may have improved, the stigma within the healthcare sector "has not noticeably declined over the past 25 years."

With the election looming, the open letter urges for a prohibition on diagnosing BPD in young individuals in the UK "until there is conclusive proof that this diagnosis does not harm children". It asserts: "We know many ways to help traumatised children and not one of them relies on those around them believing they have deficits in their personality."

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was unable to provide a statement due to the pre-election period.