Effectiveness of a co-produced peer group for borderline personality disorder: connection and recovery

BACKGROUND: The co-production of peer groups alongside people with lived experience of complex mental health challenges may enhance engagement and support recovery. Few studies examine this approach among people with borderline personality disorder. AIMS: To evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, and effectiveness of a 10-week co-produced peer group for people with borderline personality disorder. METHODS: Participants provided informed consent and completed assessments of recovery, mental health confidence, belonging, and personality functioning at baseline, group completion, and 3-month follow-up. Group acceptability and appropriateness were rated anonymously. Analysis accounted for changes to modality (face-to-face and online) necessitated during the pandemic. RESULTS: = 51) outcomes. Small to moderate improvements were observed across most recovery domains, mental health confidence, belonging and personality functioning between baseline and post-group. Improvements in clinical recovery occurred post-group for those in the online modality. Across both modalities confidence in coping was significantly different at 3-month follow-up compared to baseline. At 3-month follow-up, personality functioning outcomes remained significantly different from baseline. The group's appropriateness and acceptability were rated above average. CONCLUSIONS: A co-produced peer group for people with borderline personality disorder was appropriate and demonstrated gains across recovery domains.