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The experience of suicidal, substance‐abusing men with severe personality disorders in the emergency department
Author(s) -
Links Paul S.,
Strike Carol,
Ball Jeffrey S.,
Bergmans Yvonne,
Rhodes Anne E.,
Spence Julie M.,
Watson William J.,
Rufo Claire
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
personality and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1932-863X
pISSN - 1932-8621
DOI - 10.1002/pmh.2
Subject(s) - emergency department , borderline personality disorder , substance use , qualitative research , psychology , personality , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , social science , sociology
This qualitative study examines the experience of suicidal, substance‐abusing men with severe personality disorders presenting to an emergency department (ED). Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ED patients ( n = 25), ED physicians ( n = 5), ED nurses ( n = 6), other ED staff ( n = 6) and family physicians (FPs) ( n = 7). Interviews were tape‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and managed using a comprehensive qualitative software program N6. Transcripts were coded using an iterative process and team involvement to capture emergent themes. Negative expectations were found to be held by participants from all perspectives, patients, ED staff and FPs, and these overarching negative expectations appear to interact with prior negative experiences and current negative behaviours to foster negative outcomes from these encounters. The suicidal men, ED staff and FPs offered suggestions, both systemic and within the ED interactions between providers and patients, that could minimize negative outcomes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.