Approaches to Working with People with BPD for Psychiatrists (1/2 day)

This course has been endorsed by the RANZCP as CPD activity code: ED000057, and each hour of participation can be claimed under Practice Development and Review (Section 3.1) once the second post-workshop questionnaire has been returned.

BPD is common in both public and private psychiatry. It is estimated that upwards of 10% of clients presenting to outpatient psychiatry services would meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Regardless of area of practice, a specialist psychiatrist is certain to have clinical interactions with people who are living with BPD. Given the high prevalence of BPD in outpatient psychiatry, the skills covered in this interactive workshop are essential for specialist psychiatrists in both public and private practice.

This half day workshop is to assist psychiatrists assess and work with people with BPD using psychological treatment principles. Evidence-based psychotherapy treatments, which have been limited to specialist clinics for many years, are now understood to be part of a common approach to BPD which can be delivered in a modified form by single practitioners in both private and public practice setting. This workshop will also provide an opportunity for discussing complex BPD patients with other co-existing psychiatric disorders.

By the completion of the workshop, participants will have improved:

1. Assessment and diagnosis of BPD

2. Knowledge of epidemiology, prognosis and evidenced-based treatments for BPD

3. Knowledge of the role of pharmacotherapy, ECT and TMS in BPD

4. Skills in risk assessment and risk management

5. Understanding of the role of emergency department and psychiatric inpatient facilities in the management of BPD

6. Competence in the delivery of psychotherapeutic interventions in private practice

7. Treatment of BPD in the context of co-morbid psychiatric disorders.

Participants will be provided with a pre, post and 3 month follow-up workshop questionnaire that must be completed in order to claim RANZCP CPD activity under Practice Development and Review (Section 3.1).

FACILITATORS:

Associate Professor Sathya Rao is a psychiatrist and the Executive Clinical Director of Spectrum Personality Disorder Service. He is the Vice President of the Australian BPD Foundation. He is also an adjunct clinical associate professor at Monash University. Dr Rao is involved in clinical research and has published research papers, contributed chapters and co-authored books on borderline personality disorder. He was a member of the NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines development committee, 2012. He has taught clinicians across Australia and was the head of psychiatry training program of Victoria for the RANZCP previously. He is involved in treating complex personality disorder patients and provides second opinions and secondary consultations for complex clinical conditions associated with personality disorders. He was the recipient of the 2020 Meritorious Award of the Victorian Branch of RANZCP. In recognition of his contributions to psychiatry he received the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (General Division) in June 2022.

Dr Lukas Cheney is a consultant psychiatrist at Spectrum. He has training in Dialectal Behaviour Therapy and Mentalization Based Therapy and has a keen interest in research to improve our understanding of personality and associated disorders. In his work at Spectrum, Dr Cheney is involved in the most complex cases of personality disorder from across Victoria and to mental health services seeking consultation around Australia. Dr Cheney is a strong believer in a stepped care model of treatment for personality disorder and the idea that, with the right knowledge, any mental health clinician can engage therapeutically with a person living with personality disorder.

Rita Brown worked for nearly for 40 years as a pharmacist before embracing a career change to advocate for people impacted by BPD. Rita’s passion is to work with and advocate for the needs of carers while also remaining sensitive to the needs of people with BPD and clinicians and other workers. Rita is currently the Carer Consultant for Spectrum the Personality Disorder Service and draws on her lived experience as a family member of someone with BPD to advocate for the needs of families and friends within Spectrum, other services and the wider community. She is a volunteer, founding and current President of the Australian BPD Foundation. Rita regularly facilitates peer to peer interactive workshops for carers run through Spectrum and presents at conferences and forum throughout the state and nationally. In addition she has contributed to numerous state and national consultations and submissions.

Who should attend? Psychiatrists working within the public or private health sector.

Cost: $400 (payable by credit card only).

Lunch: A light lunch and afternoon tea including a vegetarian selection is provided.

Getting to Spectrum: Spectrum is located at 110 Church Street, on the corner of Church Street and Tweedie Place. Entrance is via the front of the building, to the right of the Skoda car dealership.

Public transport:

• Tram 78 on Church Street. Alight at Tweedie Pl/Church Street (Stop 63).
• Tram 109 on Victoria Parade (about a 5 min walk to 110 Church Street)
• Tram 75 on Bridge Rd (about a 7 min walk to 110 Church Street)

Car parking:

There is very limited 2 hour street parking available in the area. All day parking is available in:

• Richmond Traders, 271 Bridge rd, Richmond – 7 minute walk ($12/day)
• 35 Elizabeth Street, Richmond – 11 minute walk ($20 a day)
• 1 Allowah Terrace, Richmond – 12 minute walk (about $26/day)

Cancellation policy: If your circumstances change and you no longer can attend this event please log into your eventbrite account and cancel your ticket and request a refund no later than one (1) week prior to the event. A refund will not be issued if notification has not been received within this time frame and you will be required to pay for the event.

General enquiries: Email [email protected] or phone Spectrum (03) 8413 8750.

COVID-19 Update: To ensure a COVIDsafe event, please do not attend if you:

• Show symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, runny nose, shortness of breath
• Have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and released from self-isolation on day 5 or day 6
• Are a close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case

Host or Publisher Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria