Cassel Hospital Specialist Personality Disorder Service brochure

www.wlmht.nhs.uk/cassel
Cassel Hospital
Specialist Personality Disorder Service
“When you enter the Cassel as a patient, it’s like
nothing you have ever come across before... the
Cassel gave me my life back; without it, I would hate
to think where I would be today.”
Ms LM, aged 38, came to the Cassel because of severe selfharm,
dissociation and long-stay psychiatric admissions,
with little hope of recovery. She now works and lives
independently, with no inpatient admissions.

Our specialist personality disorder and complex
needs service provides intensive psychosocial
inpatient and day treatment for adults and young
people (16+).
Building on decades of experience, we provide treatment for
clients in the UK and Ireland who have often exhausted all
other avenues of mental health support and care in their local
communities. Some aspects of treatment are age specific.
Clients from Greater London can step down into our outreach
psychosocial treatment services. We also provide specialist
assessments and treatment plans for complex cases.
Client group
We treat adults and young people (16+) who present with
problems such as: self-harm and suicidal thoughts and
behaviours; severe dissociation; transient psychotic states;
depression and mood disorders; eating disorders; alcohol and
substance misuse; effects of trauma and abuse; severe problems
in relationships; and breakdown of everyday functioning.
Treatment programme
• Psychosocial nursing in a living-learning environment
• Individual and group psychotherapy
• Dance movement therapy
• Family, carer and couple work
• Social work support
• Social, physical, and creative activities
• Psychosocial education; special interest groups
• Education and voluntary work
• Psychotropic medication as required
• Regular reviews of progress in treatment

Aims of treatment
• To reduce self-harm, suicidal and other self-destructive
behaviours.
• To modify patterns of dysfunctional relationships.
• To facilitate reintegration into family and social networks,
education and employment.
• To improve global functioning.
• To foster appropriate use of local services.
Working in partnership
Our multidisciplinary treatment team meets daily to
understand and manage the issues clients bring to their
treatment. We work closely with their local treatment team
to ensure continuity of care and integrated pathways, as part
of the CPA process. Full assessment reports, regular progress
reports, and final discharge summaries, and a follow up
reassessment report are provided.
The Cassel Expert by Experience Network provides support
for ex-service users and contributes to the development and
delivery of our treatment programmes.
Evidence base
A number of research studies, published in peer reviewed
professional journals, provide evidence that the treatment:
• Significantly reduces severity and number of symptoms
• Increases global functioning
• Reduces self harm and suicide attempts
• Improves psychiatric morbidity and need for
hospitalisation
• Is cost effective.

Research references
Chiesa M, Fonagy, P.Holmes, J, et al (2006). 6 Year follow-up of 3 treatment
programmes for personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorder.
Beecham, J., et al (2006). The costs and effectiveness of two psychosocial
treatment programmes for personality disorder: a controlled study.
European Psychiatry, 21:102-109.
Service location
Our inpatient and day services are based at the Cassel
Hospital, overlooking Ham Common, in Richmond, Surrey. It
is open seven days a week. There are good transport links.
Referral and funding procedures
We welcome written referrals, detailing life history, current
symptoms, social circumstances, and treatment so far. The
funding process is shortened if the local lead commissioner and
responsible consultant are in agreement with the referral.
Referrals and enquiries to:
Dr Wilhelm Skogstad, Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy
Tel: 020 8483 2953 | Email: wilhelm.skogstad@nhs.net
Sarah Roberts, Deputy Head of Performance & Business Management
Tel: 020 8483 2928 | Email: sarah.roberts10@nhs.net
Cost (2012-2013)
Initial viability assessment: £457.00
Per bed night £375.00
Six months residential treatment £68,625.00
Per day patient treatment £247.00
Cassel Hospital Personality Disorder Service
1 Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7JF
Tel: 020 8483 2900 Web: www.wlmht.nhs.uk/cassel