Borderline Personality Case Study: Maria

When instructed to write a 3-5 page paper over a psychological disorder I wondered to myself what disorder could I do to interest me enough to take so much time to look into. What one disorder would I have to force myself to research and write about that would not be completely painful? This is when I decided to write my paper over the Borderline Personality Disorder, the disorder Mrs. Kline refers to as the crazy girlfriend disorder which fits the disorder a lot better. This disorder grabbed my attention because I’m interested in what causes one to become so obsessive in such a short time span. In this research paper I will inform you about what can cause this disorder, what symptoms and actions are made by the ones affected by this disorder, and the treatment that reduces the symptoms.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be described in simple terms as a condition in which sufferers experience long periods of emotional instability and troubled feelings about themselves and other people. These troubled feelings allow individuals to take impulsive measures and have trouble in their relationships (Bouchard, Sabourin, Lussier & Villeneuve, 2009). BPD basically comprises of unusual intensities of instability in mood and irrational thinking also referred to as splitting. Splitting in BPD involves a switch between negative perception of others and idealization (Sperry, 2003). This usually occurs along with irregular mood swings and can negatively impact on the existing relationships such as family,

A personality disorder is characterized by a distinct pattern of behavior that does not meet normal standards of behavior within one’s culture. This pattern is ingrained as the norm to the person affected, and the characteristics of the affected person deviate markedly from societal standards (Hebblethwaite, 2009). The two main features that help to identify a personality disorder are chronic interpersonal difficulties and persons with one’s identity or sense of self (Livesly, 2001). Within this set of mental health disorders lie several other subsets, including one of the most prominent personality disorders - Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a severe, long-lasting disorder that has an incidence of occurrence approximately equal to that of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia combined (Grant, Chou, Goldstein et al., 2008). BPD also puts those affected at risk for damage in many areas of their life if not properly diagnosed and treated, including personal relationships, school, work, and self-imagine. Furthermore, this disorder has a high co-morbidity with other disorders such as depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and social phobia, among many more (Hebblethwaite, 2009). Misdiagnosis of borderline personality disorder can have serious clinical implications. This paper looks to identify the risk factors associated with BPD, the affects on various aspects of the person’s life, treatments, and give recommendations as to how to properly identify and

In order to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a patient must show “impairments in personality (self and interpersonal) functioning and the presence of pathological personality traits”, all of which are listed in the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (2013). According to the DSM V, a patient must have an identity disorder which includes having “unstable self-image, often associated with excessive self-criticism” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A patient must also demonstrate impairments in empathy, which involves a “compromised ability to recognize the feelings and needs of others associated with interpersonal hypersensitivity” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This criterion does not mean

Other symptoms of borderline personality disorder include efforts to avoid abandonment, impulsive behavior, distorted sense of self, chronic feelings of emptiness, inappropriate and intense anger or problems controlling anger, stress related to paranoid thoughts, a pattern of unstable relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. Mood and emotion are often swinging from extreme dislike or rage andhaving feelings to harm themselves such as cutting themselve out of the world, observing themselves from outside the body and feeling vulnuarable, or losing touch with reality (National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). The symptoms can be triggered by minor separations, such as vacations and sudden change of plans (Chapman and Gratz 2013). Chapman and Gratz also stated when an individual has borderline personality disorder they have unstable emotions, one minute the person can feel joyful and then suddenly they can have intense negative emotions. Emotions that are most common and are particularly tough for people with borderline personality disorder includes sadness, shame, loneliness, fear, and anger toward themselves. People with borderline personality disorder often fear rejection and abandonment, especially when it comes to

Abstract: This paper will discuss the causes and psychological impact of borderline personality disorder. It will also talk about how to treat those impacted by borderline personality disorder.

“Personality disorders have been documented in approximately 9 percent of the general U.S. population” (Angstman, Rasmussen, 2011). Emotional dysregulation disorder or its common name borderline personality disorder is a very serious and chronic disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) describes borderline personality disorder as “a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts” (Gardner, 2006). Within the last 20 years, psychologists and other mental health professionals have made tremendous strides in research on what exactly borderline personality disorder, some of its triggers and possible effective treatment options. Borderline personality disorder is defined as a disorder that generates severe emotional instability which can be a springboard that can lead to other stress induced mental and behavioral problems.

The findings that these authors were able to get could definitely suggest for continual studies in ways for borderline personality disorder to be coped with due to the emotional dysregulation it takes part in. In addition the behaviors of people could be more closely defined to be borderline and though people may have antisocial personalities, it does not mean they are equally unemotionally stable. These findings also imply that

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious and complex mental disorder involving maladaptive behaviors and multiple symptoms. This disorder often occurs in the context of relationships and can have a chaotic effect not only on the individual with BPD but also on their loved ones. According to the NIMH, “borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationship”.9 A primary character of BPD is behavioral and emotional dysregulation. These behaviors are difficult

The objective of this study is to describe the assessment and care of a client with borderline personality disorder. This work will additionally demonstrate the complexity of the problems and needs of this client and how this impacts on their illness and service providers. Additionally this work will describe the client's particular mental health problems, discuss possible causative factors and describe how the person was assessed and what interventions were used to help them. Evaluate the effectiveness of these assessments and interventions with reference to published literature, policy and legislation.

Likewise, the author read that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is described as instability in interpersonal relationship, self-image and mood, a fast fluctuation between emotional states, impulsive behaviour and an inclination towards self-harm and suicidal thinking (NICE 2009).

The next morning, MMM was introduced to her inpatient Psychiatrist. MM mentioned to her Psychiatrist that she had battled symptoms of depression throughout high school and had thoughts of harming herself, especially after a relationship would end. The ending of a relationship would be followed by feelings of abandonment, like the feelings she had as a child when her father left. She also expressed to her Psychiatrist that she felt that she was not loveable and that she would be alone the rest of her life. She expressed resentment towards her father for leaving, and towards her mother for making him leave. She even expressed resentment towards her ex-boyfriend, whom the recent suicide attempt was over, but stated that she would take him back in a heartbeat. In fact, she stated that she hated him, but couldn’t live without him. The Psychiatrist listened to MMM carefully, and diagnosed her with Borderline Personality Disorder. He recognized the common statement made by those with Borderline: “I hate you, please don’t leave me”.

Furthermore, borderline personality disorder is clinically defined as ones instability which is evident in their relationships, emotions, behavior and image of themselves. Persons with such disorder may have feelings of abandonment. Often in efforts to manipulate people back into relationships, they take part in self-manipulating behavior or suicidal attempts. Suicide is sometimes attempted impulsively by persons in periods of extreme depression. In addition people often experience strong emotions and strong desires for intimacy.

The history of BPD can be traced back to 1938 when Adolph Stern first described the symptoms of the disorder as neither being psychotic nor psychoneurotic; hence, the term ‘borderline’ was introduced (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15). Then in 1960, Otto Kernberg coined the term ‘borderline personality organization’ to describe persistent patterns of behavior and functioning consisting of instability, and distressed psychological self-organization (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15).

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by fluctuation of self-image, lack of stable interpersonal relationships and pronounced and unpredictable impulsivity. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (2013) also lists fear of abandonment, suicidal or self-harming behaviors, intense or inappropriate anger that is difficult to control as well as paranoid ideation or dissociative symptoms. Morcos and Morcos (2016) wrote that patients with BPD are often misdiagnosed with other trauma related disorders, such as PTSD, depression or bipolar disorder. According to Beatson, et al. (2016) there are additional issues in diagnosing older patients, as the criteria indicates that symptoms would have been seen early in the patient’s life, not later. Beatson, et al. (2016) also noted that there is a considerable lack of studies and literature concerning BPD in older patients, making the diagnostic process more difficult. In this case study we will be working with an older patient, one that was well into midlife before Borderline Personality Disorder was included in the DSM, to see if she fits the criteria for BPD and what treatment options might be available.