EARLY SIGNS OF SEVERE PERSONALITY DISORDER
61. Even if some severe personality disorders are
not capable of treatment in the sense of cure, there may be a
stage at which early intervention would be beneficial. We understand
that such personality disorders develop in the early adolescent
years and become well-established by the early twenties. Some
experts believe that action can be taken to identify and treat
young people in the 12-14 year age group who show signs of developing
such a disorder. At that age their difficulties would be apparent
to those in the school system, at least through truancy. Multi-agency
co-operation and intervention at that stage could have significant
benefits both for the individual and for the community in the
long-term. This would require both resources and cooperation between
teachers, social workers and the medical profession.
62. We recommend that the Home Office, the Department
of Health and the Department for Education and Employment should
examine the costs and benefits of identifying in early adolescence
individuals who may develop a severe personality disorder and
become dangerous. It may well be that intervention before the
personality disorder becomes settled in the late teenage years
would have long-term benefits both for the individual and for
public protection.
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