Attitudes towards parents with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder in child protection settings

Parents diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have high rates of child protection involvement. Research has shown that this diagnosis carries a significant amount of stigma. In the absence of standardised procedures for parenting capacity assessments within the child protection sector, the risk of stigma contributing to the decision-making process is high. This study examined if there were differences in how students and practitioners rated parenting capacity based on parenting scenarios where a parent had a diagnosis of BPD compared to a parent diagnosed with postnatal depression. The sample included 122 current, past, and prospective child protection workers who were recruited via social media and a local University. Participants completed an online survey which included demographic questions and rated parenting capacity based on two vignettes involving two scenarios (one where a parent had a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and post-natal depression in the other), along with general attitudes towards people with a diagnosis of BPD. The parent in the borderline personality disorder vignette was assessed as having poorer parenting capacity compared to the parent in the postnatal depression scenario. Interestingly, there was no significant association between the assessment of parenting capacity and participants general attitudes and skills towards people with a diagnosis of BPD. Differences between the ratings of professionals and students are described. Further training providing psychoeducation BPD is recommended to reduce the potential impact of stigma on decision-making, particularly for professionals within child protection settings. • In hypothetical scenarios, a parent diagnosed with BPD was judged as having poorer parenting capacity compared to a parent diagnosed with post-natal depression, despite comparable risk profiles. • Students rated the parent in the BPD scenario as more likely to have difficulty managing consistency and flexibility, and difficulties managing children’s long-term needs, compared to professionals. • Judgements of parenting capacity were not correlated with general attitudes and skills towards people with a diagnosis of BPD. • Training in working with people with a diagnosis of BPD is recommended to reduce the potential impact of stigma on decision-making, among professionals within child protection settings and students in likely to go onto work in this setting.