Design and logic model of the BIWI intervention on work reintegration of people with borderline personality disorder
Objectives The objective of this study is to develop the logic model and the content of the Borderline Intervention for Work Integration (BIWI). Methods The creation of BIWI was based on Chen’s (2015) recommendations for establishing the change model and the action model. Individual interviews with four women with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) and focused groups with occupational therapists and service providers in community organizations from three Quebec regions (n=16) were conducted. The group and individual interviews began with a presentation of data from studies in the field. This was followed by a discussion of the challenges of people with BPD in relation to job choice, performance, tenure, and the essential components to be included in an ideal intervention. Transcripts of the individual and group interviews were examined using content analysis. The components of the change and action models were validated by these same participants. Results The change model of the BIWI intervention addresses six themes, which seem appropriate to focus on for a population with BPD in the process of reintegration into the workplace: 1) meaning given to work; 2) self-awareness and sense of competence as a worker; 3) management of internal and external factors that affect mental workload; 4) interpersonal relationships in the work context; 5) disclosure of the mental disorder in the work context; and 6) more satisfying routines outside of work. The action model of BIWI reveals that this intervention is deployed in collaboration with health professionals from the public and private sectors and service providers from community or government agencies. It combines group (n=10 sessions) and individual meetings (n=2), in face-to-face and online modes. The prioritized outcomes are to reduce the number of perceived barriers to work reintegration and to improve mobilization towards a sustainable employment reintegration project. Conclusion Work participation is a pivotal target in the interventions for people with BPD. With the support of a logic model, it was possible to identify the key components to be considered in the schema of such an intervention. These components relate to central issues for this clientele, such as: their representations of work, self-knowledge as a worker, maintenance of performance and well-being at work, relations with the work group and external partners, and work embedded in one’s occupational repertoire. These components are now included in the BIWI intervention. The next step will be to test this intervention with unemployed persons with BPD who are motivated to reintegrate the workforce.