Complex emotional needs in later life: Early service evaluation of structured clinical management and mentalisation based treatment for older people with complex emotional needs

Abstract

Services aiming to support older adults with complex emotional needs are beginning to develop within the UK. Several services throughout the country are exploring the efficacy of multi-modal treatments for older adults that were initially designed for use in adults with a diagnosis of ‘Personality Disorder’. Manchester Later Life services’ Compass pathway offers three distinct treatments for older adults with complex emotional needs: Structured Clinical Management (SCM), Mentalisation Based Treatment (MBT) and Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT). The service also has a dedicated Later Life Experts by Experience Development Group and offers a small case management service for individuals that do not easily fit into the criteria for standard treatment. This article will outline the rationale for setting up the Compass service, outline the broad structure of the pathway, highlight the positive outcomes for SCM and MBT, discuss the challenges experienced so far, and provide some information about the adaptations that have been made to meet the needs of older people.