Co-designing augmentations to individual placement and support for people with borderline personality disorder

Objective People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may benefit from employment supports, however, there is limited knowledge of effective supports. This study aimed to co-develop strategies to enhance Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based employment program, for people with BPD.Method Co-design methods allowed the exploration of strategies that could enhance IPS to better support individuals with BPD. Two co-design workshops were held with (1) participants with lived experience of BPD (n = 3) and carers (n = 4) and (2) employment specialists (n = 2), clinicians (n = 5) and a lived experience consultant (n = 1). Workshop data were analysed using thematic analysis with findings (suggested strategies) mapped against the core principles of IPS.Results Most co-developed strategies aligned to core IPS principles, with five novel strategies identified to improve IPS for people with BPD. These included collaborative referral, streamlining initial appointments, buddy system, peer worker support and workplace assessment/modifications.Discussion Findings show that if IPS is achieving a high level of fidelity, the program provides a good level of support for people with BPD. The next stage is to trial these novel strategies and seek feedback from stakeholders regarding their utility and impact on employment outcomes.