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as they do. This
initial training needs to be
followed by regular clinical supervision to
reinforce the training and provide an environment
where potential problems can be discussed,
which allows intervention
to resolve potential
difficulties to occur at an early stage and can
prevent many serious problems developing.
4.10 Personality disorder research funding
Personality disorders are poorly understood and,
as
this document has outlined, there is no
agreed definition of personality disorder or
understanding of causal mechanisms. To develop
our understanding of
personality disorders much
more research is needed. There has recently
been an increase in the research budget for
research into personality disorder within forensic
settings. This is
to be welcomed but there are
still problems obtaining funding for research
into personality disorders within general mental
health settings. There is a great need for
research into personality
development in order
to understand why some individuals develop
dysfunctional personalities and how their
experience and inheritance differ from those
who develop functional personalities. This could
further our understanding
of the role of stress
vulnerability in the development of
psychopathology and the factors that make an
individual resilient to psychopathology.
References
Laming, Lord (2003). The Victoria Climbié Inquiry.
Retrieved 3 March 2006 from www.victoria-climbie-
inquiry.org.uk/finreport/report.pdf
Management Advisory Service (1989).
Review of Clinical
Psychology Services
. Cheltenham: AS.
National Institute for Mental Health of England (2003).
Personality disorder: No longer a diagnosis of exclusion
.
London: Department of Health.
Department of Health (2004).
CAMHS standard,
national service framework for children, young
people and maternity services
. Available from
www.dh.gov.uk