Brief admission is a crisis intervention for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), and refers to a clinical admission at a psychiatric hospital for a period of 1-5 nights. Patients formulate a treatment plan together with their community mental health nurse about the maximum frequency allowed for these brief admissions. The purpose of the study was to describe the lived experiences of patients with BPD with use of the brief admission intervention. The study used a phenomenological approach. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of BPD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria; experience with brief admission, and sufficient understanding of the Dutch language. A total of 16 female patients and one male patient participated in the study. Thematic analysis of the transcripts of the interviews revealed four major meaning units: (i) organization of the brief admission; (ii) contact with a nurse; (iii) time out from daily life; and (iv) experienced value for the patient. Patients highlighted the quality of the contact with a nurse as the most important aspect of the brief admission. Nurses should be aware of the importance of connecting with patients who have BPD during a brief admission, particularly in light of the interpersonal hypersensitivity that characterizes these patients.

Key Points Question Is self-referred brief admission more effective than treatment as usual in reducing the use of inpatient services for individuals who self-harm and are at risk of suicide? Findings In this randomized clinical trial of 125 adults in Sweden, the brief admission group did not show reduced inpatient service use compared with the control group. Both groups showed significant decreases in days admitted to the hospital and in emergency department visits, but only the brief admission group showed a significant decrease in duration of compulsory admission. Meaning Brief admission does not seem to be more effective than treatment as usual in reducing the use of inpatient services.

Brief Admission can be effectively used to prevent self-harm and suicide in patients with borderline personality disorder. During the Brief Admission, psychiatric nurses can support these patients achieving an active coping in dealing with their symptoms.