Basic psychological competency and the awareness of the self in relation to the patient can be fostered through attendance at a case discussion group. With some limitations, Balint groups continue to be a useful way of introducing young psychiatrists to psychological processes.

Objectives: Studies of lived experiences are important for improving treatment effectiveness, but most studies of mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) are quantitative. This qualitative study aimed to better understand service users' lived experiences of MBT, including their experiences of change. Design: This is a qualitative study that used one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight MBT service users recruited via four NHS trusts. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Three superordinate themes were identified: being borderline, being in the group, and being on a journey. 'Experiences of diagnosis' and 'the group' are salient topics in the lived experiences of service users' during the MBT journey, as is the nature/type of 'change' which can create symptom reduction albeit alongside a negative felt experience. Conclusion: Our research aligns with current thought regarding the complexity and challenges of treating BPD via psychotherapy and adds a further dimension, that of experiencing MBT and changes during therapy. The participants' experiences of BPD, and of experiencing MBT are discussed.

While there has been a growth in recent years in recovery research, much of this has been from the US and there is very little comparative research in this area. This paper describes the rationale, conceptual foundations and methods for a prospective, multi-country, cohort study aimed to map pathways to recovery from problematic illicit drug use, with a specific focus on gender differences in recovery pathways. Our study combines qualitative and quantitative components and examines the impact of recovery policy on the accessibility and viability of recovery pathways in England, Scotland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Additionally, the paper describes five processes through which mechanisms for behaviour change for recovery may be triggered. This study will provide opportunities for linking recovery outcome research with analyses of national recovery policies, while also addressing the gap in literature around female pathways to recovery.

As the concept of recovery has expanded, and become embedded in drug and alcohol policy, so too has the proliferation of online recovery support. This paper explores data from the UK Life in Recovery survey (Best et al., 2015), focusing on online recovery methods categorised as: Online Groups, Websites, and Smartphone Applications. While 301 people (39.30%) reported involvement with at least one online recovery method, chi-square tests reveal significant associations between people in stable recovery (five years or more) and the use of recovery applications (Cramer's V= 0.114), as well as between people in full-time employment and the use of online recovery websites or recovery applications. Having dependent children was not associated with use of any online recovery method, yet gender was (Cramer's V= 0.088). This study extends the relatively limited literature and knowledge base of online recovery methods. While the evidence points to higher engagement of recovery websites and apps for people in stable recovery, encouraging online recovery methods for individuals in early recovery may support recovery efforts when the risk of returning to substance misuse and active using social networks remains high. Further research should investigate the mechanisms of recovery change, with a focus on gender differences.

Aims The aim of this study is to assess the impact of establishing a specialized community personality disorder team on out of area placements, local hospital admissions and out of hours crisis contacts for service users with borderline personality disorder. Method This is a before–after interim evaluation of a new service. We tested, through a paired t‐test, whether the intervention generated statistically significant differences over a range of measures of service usage, including out of area placements, local hospital admissions and out of hours crisis contacts. Data from 12 months after the intervention started were compared with the previous 12 months of routine care, to determine the effect on crisis contacts, days in hospital and those returning from/or sent out of area for care. Finally, we have assessed the likelihood to generate cost savings. Results All service users in out of area placements were repatriated to live in the community locally (100%), and there was a statistically significant decrease in inpatient admissions (80%). This was counterbalanced by a smaller but statistically significant increase in out of hours community crisis contacts (30%), although these reduced over time. Conclusion Reorganizing local care pathways can lead to less out of area placements and less hospital admissions. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.