Annual of social work, Vol. 26 No. 3, 2019.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3935/ljsr.v26i3.337
RECOGNITION OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER SYMPTOMS IN PARENTS WHEN THE CHILD’S WELFARE IS AT RISK: PERSPECTIVE OF EXPERTS FROM SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRES
Ivana Maljuna
orcid.org/0000-0001-9144-2186
; Department of social work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Ajduković
orcid.org/0000-0002-0561-9908
; Department of social work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Draženka Ostojić
orcid.org/0000-0003-1796-6867
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Borderline personality disorder is a common mental disorder with the symptoms of affective instability, impulsive and uncontrolled behaviour, identity disorder, unstable interpersonal relationships, and possible reality-testing errors, due to which the affected person can experience significant difficulties in personal, parental, family, social and professional functioning. This paper presents the results of a qualitative study on the recognition of symptoms of borderline personality disorder in parents when a child’s welfare is at risk, including 12 social workers and psychologists from the Department for the Protection of Children, Family and Marriage of the social welfare centres in the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County. The research was conducted using the method of a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was used for data processing. The results of the research show that in their daily work, in situations when a child’s welfare is threatened, experts recognise different symptoms of affective instability, impulsive and uncontrolled behaviour, identity disorders, unstable and intensive interpersonal relationships, as well as difficulties with reality testing, which may be related to possible borderline personality disorder in parents. Experts from social welfare centres mention difficulties in cooperation with healthcare professionals as an aggravating circumstance in working with this group of parents.
Keywords
borderline personality disorder; experts; social welfare centre; psychosocial interventions; cross-sectoral cooperation
Hrčak ID:
235327
URI
Publication date:
29.2.2020.
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