Samenvatting

Background: Structured psychotherapy is recommended as the preferred treatment of personality disorders. A
substantial group of patients, however, has no access to these therapies or does not benefit. For those patients
who have no (longer) access to psychotherapy a Collaborative Care Program (CCP) is developed. Collaborative Care
originated in somatic health care to increase shared decision making and to enhance self management skills of
chronic patients. Nurses have a prominent position in CCP’s as they are responsible for optimal continuity and
coordination of care. The aim of the CCP is to improve quality of life and self management skills, and reduce
destructive behaviour and other manifestations of the personality disorder.
Methods/design: Quantitative and qualitative data are combined in a comparative multiple case study. This makes it possible to test the feasibility of the CCP, and also provides insight into the preliminary outcomes of CCP. Two
treatment conditions will be compared, one in which the CCP is provided, the other in which Care as Usual is
offered. In both conditions 16 patients will be included. The perspectives of patients, their informal carers and nurses
are integrated in this study. Data (questionnaires, documents, and interviews) will be collected among these three
groups of participants. The process of treatment and care within both research conditions is described with
qualitative research methods. Additional quantitative data provide insight in the preliminary results of the CCP
compared to CAU. With a stepped analysis plan the ‘black box’ of the application of the program will be revealed in
order to understand which characteristics and influencing factors are indicative for positive or negative outcomes.
Discussion: The present study is, as to the best of our knowledge, the first to examine Collaborative Care for patients
with severe personality disorders receiving outpatient mental health care. With the chosen design we want to
examine how and which elements of the CC Program could contribute to a better quality of life for the patients.