Borderline personality disorder
What does Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) mean?
Overview
- Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) refers to the needs experienced by people who may have received a ‘personality disorder’ diagnosis or live with comparable symptoms and difficulties.
- Diagnosis of a personality disorder requires a mental health professional to evaluate long-term patterns of functioning and symptoms.
- They are different types of personality disorders and symptoms vary depending on the type of personality disorder.
- There is no clear, or single, cause for developing personality difficulties or disorders. It is likely to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
- People living with complex emotional needs often experience other health problems.
- There are a range of treatments to support people experiencing complex emotional needs in leading more fulfilling lives.
- There are lots of positive things we can do to support someone with complex emotional needs and make a difference.
What is Complex Emotional Needs (CEN)?
‘Complex Needs’ or ‘Complex Emotional Needs’ (CEN) refers to the needs experienced by people who may have received a “personality disorder” diagnosis, or live with comparable symptoms and difficulties that would meet, or are within the threshold to meet, diagnostic criteria for personality disorder.
Personality disorders
Our thoughts, behaviours and feelings are all unique and shape our personality. It influences how we relate to other people and experience life and the world around us.
We all have part of our personality which can cause difficulties at times. The level of difficulties can range from mild to severe. At the more severe end, there is significant distress or difficulty across different aspects of someone’s life and these may be longstanding. It is this level of difficulty that can be termed a ‘disorder’.
In general in the UK 8% of the population would meet the criteria for a diagnosis of personality disorder (1 in 12 people). This means this is quite common.
What causes personality disorders?
Personality disorders can be rooted in trauma, negative childhood environments, pre-disposing biological factors or a combination of factors. This can include having difficulties with self-image and confidence, impulsive behaviour, unstable moods, behaviour that is harmful to self, and instability in personal relationships – all of which can be distressing when you are experiencing them.
