Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

CG192/4

Question

Is structured clinical management for moderate to severe personality disorders in pregnancy and the postnatal period effective at improving outcomes for women and their babies?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Personality disorders are associated with poor engagement with maternity services and perinatal mental health services and this leads to poor mental and physical health outcomes for the woman, fetus and baby. The complex psychological interventions that are effective for treating personality disorder may present problems for engagement even in those motivated to seek treatment. Structured clinical management is a psychologically informed model of case management, which is effective for treating personality disorder and may have greater flexibility and capacity to engage women with personality disorder in pregnancy and the postnatal period. The question should be addressed in a randomised controlled trial comparing structured clinical management of personality disorder in pregnancy and the postnatal period against standard care. The trial should report the following outcomes, with a follow-up period of at least 2 years:
- the mental and physical health of the woman
- the physical health of the fetus
- the mental and physical health of the baby
- the quality of the mother–baby relationship.
The trial should also examine the cost effectiveness of the intervention.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance

Number

CG192

Date issued

December 2014

Other details