RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 “Personality disorder” and capacity to make treatment decisions JF Journal of Medical Ethics JO J Med Ethics FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics SP 647 OP 650 DO 10.1136/jme.2009.030395 VO 35 IS 10 A1 G Szmukler YR 2009 UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/35/10/647.abstract AB Whether treatment decision-making capacity can be meaningfully applied to patients with a diagnosis of “personality disorder” is examined. Patients presenting to a psychiatric emergency clinic with threats of self-harm are considered, two having been assessed and reviewed in detail. It was found that capacity can be meaningfully assessed in such patients, although the process is more complex than in patients with diagnoses of a more conventional kind. The process of assessing capacity in such patients is very time-consuming and may become, in itself, a therapeutic intervention.