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Description Of Borderline Personality Disorder

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Rationale for diagnosis: I arrived at the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder for several different reasons. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), Borderline Personality Disorder is defined as “A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.” One of the defining characteristics within this definition for Borderline Personality Disorder is “Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment”. Robin’s case states that she would often verbally downgrade her companions and then a short time later she would end up worrying that she may have estranged them. Robin would then do something kind for her companions to keep them close and remain devoted to her. Robin meets this defining characteristic because, as stated, she becomes frantic when she feels that someone is going to abandon her and puts forth an effort to do something kind for them to avoid this abandonment. Another defining characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder is “A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation”. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Robin's personal relationships with others were said to be quite abnormal; she would rapidly and with no reason shift from one mood to another. This seems to describe a pattern between Robin valuing her friends at times, yet also belittling them at other times in an extreme and alternating manner. Another characteristic that Robin possesses that is used in describing Borderline Personality Disorder is “Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging”. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The two areas that Robin portrays acts of self-damaging are through substance abuse (in Robin’s case, alcohol) and binge-eating due to her having Bulimia Nervosa. On a side note, eating disorders, particularly bulimia, are common in people with Borderline Personality Disorder; almost 25% of bulimics have the disorder. (Zanarini, Reichman, Frankenburg, Reich, & Fitzmaurice, 2010), and, up to 67% of the people with this disorder are

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