Borderline Personality Disorder: DSM-5 Criteria, Symptoms, and Treatment

Running head: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
1. Below you will find the DSM-5 criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder. From the
video of Liz, which criteria apply to her (or do not apply to her)? Provide specific
examples to back up your categorization of her symptoms.
a. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment (do NOT include suicidal or self-
injurious behaviors here—that fits with item e, below)
This criterion applies to her, as she herself has mentioned multiple times during the
interview that she feels abandoned by those near and dear to her, even though there might
not be any real issue.
b. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating
between extremes of idealization and devaluation
This applies to her as well, given she has mentioned that she feels extreme
emotions on both ends of the spectrum, where she might either be very nice and sensitive
or extremely rude and angry.
c. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self
Liz finds herself alone, without any purpose on occasions where her abandonment
feelings come up. That shows that she does not identify herself as an independent person
capable of managing her own life.
d. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex,
substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating...again, suicidal or self-injurious behaviors
are NOT included here)
Liz has confessed that she is an impulsive shopper
Liz attempted suicide twice.
e. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-injurious behavior
Liz shows this symptom, where she has tried to commit suicide multiple times,
once through overdosing on prescription medication.

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ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
f. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria,
irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)
Liz shows these symptoms as well, especially during her mother’s intervention in
her work or fights with her fiancé.
g. Chronic feelings of emptiness
Liz explains that she has recurring feelings of abandonment and admits that it also
happens when she is actually not alone.
h. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of
temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
Liz gives an instance that when she is driving, her feelings of loneliness and
abandonment start appearing and often it is accompanied by so much anger and rage that
she wants to engage in a road rage. Moreover, her attempt to overdose herself also stems
from her anger and frustration at the thought of the email which subsequently led to the
feeling that she was going to be alone.
i. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms
Liz explains that her transition from seeing the email to deciding to end her life was
like a snowball effect where all she did was see an email and her instant decision was that
she was going to be alone.
2. In what ways do Liz’s symptoms of borderline personality disorder seem to impair her
ability to function in the world (e.g., work, academics, relationships, meeting obligations,
managing day-to-day affairs, etc.)?
Liz has exemplified multiple instances where her behaviour were damaging to her
functionality. The instance where she confronted her boyfriend based on an assumption
regarding an email and attempted to commit suicide has negative impacts on her behavior.