A survivor‐orientated approach to the rehabilitation of a personality‐disordered institutionalised medium secure service user: case study

This case study illustrates the rehabilitation of a woman who suffered chronic sexual, physical and emotional abuse throughout childhood that resulted in 20 years of secure psychiatric care and a ‘psychopathic personality’ diagnosis. Rehabilitation used a survivor‐orientated approach to resolve symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, institutionalisation and a dysfunctional narrative.