Out of a shared sense of alienation, as a result of being diagnosed with personality disorder, service users set up a group to study the adverse effects associated with being given this diagnosis. Heather Castillo and colleagues report

This paper aims to highlight service users’ views regarding the diagnosis of personality disorder (PD). We believe this study is unique in that, as far as we are aware, this is the first time that current users of psychiatric services have attempted to research a clinical diagnosis. Here service users have been able to define themselves effectively within a system and so contribute to scientific knowledge by suggesting ways forward in terms of understanding and practice.