Aim: A systematic review1 of the rates of BPD amongst prisoners suggested a paucity of recent literature and few Australian studies. The systematic review demonstrated that estimated rates of BPD amongst prisoners varied from 9%2 to 61.5%3. Clinical practice guidelines4 suggest that people with BPD should be offered structured psychological therapies that are specifically designed for the treatment of BPD. A better understanding of the rates of BPD amongst offenders may therefore have wide implications for treatment design and the overall rehabilitation of offenders. The aim of the current study is to explore the prevalence of BPD symptomology amongst medium- to high-risk adult offenders participating in criminogenic programs (e.g. for violent, sexual, general offending) in South Australian prisons and community-settings, with a view to better understanding risk factors associated with offending and treatment needs.
Method: Participants completed the 10-item McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (adapted to the context) at the commencement of a prison- or community-based treatment program. Scores of 7+ indicated a high level of symptomology and the possible presence of BPD.
Results: Approximately one third of all program participants reported a high level of BPD symptoms. Preliminary data suggests a high rate of borderline symptoms among male offenders in general.
Conclusion: This audit suggests that borderline symptoms, as identified by a self-report screener, may be high. Further research is required to validate these finding utilising structured clinical interview. Further exploration of BPD symptoms amongst gender, ethnicity, and differences between types of offenders (e.g. violent vs sexual) may lead to further improvements in treatment response and reductions in recidivism.