Case Study: Borderline Personality Disorder in Abnormal Psychology

This case study focuses on a patient, Karen, admitted to West Raymond Medical Center after a suicide attempt due to relationship issues and emotional instability. The assignment addresses five assessment questions related to Karen's condition, including her fear of abandonment, behaviors aligning with DSM-5 criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and therapy-interfering behaviors. The analysis highlights Karen's struggles, including unstable relationships, self-harm, and suicidal tendencies, alongside her progress under Dr. Banks' intervention, demonstrating improvements in managing anger, emotions, and regaining control of her life. The study references the DSM-5 and explores the impact of past trauma and the importance of therapeutic interventions in managing BPD.

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Abnormal Psychology: Borderline Personality Disorder Case Study
Question 1
Karen’s admission to the West Raymond Medical Center came after she attempted suicide
due to a failed relationship. She had taken an overdose of sedatives out of frustration after a
man she has a relationship with confessed that he would not want to see here anymore.
According to her therapist at the time of admission to the hospital, this was the third suicide
attempt in two years. Although the general issue that led to the hospital was the overdose, it is
apparent that her mental well-being had a lot to do with her attempted suicide. Notably,
Karen had borderline personality disorder triggered by her past life experiences in her family.
Therefore, the mental illness was partly the reason she was admitted to the hospital.
Question 5
Based on the case, Karen’s greatest fear was the feeling of abandonment and lack of
attention from those close to her. Furthermore, she was emotionally destabilized when a
person she has established a bond with breaks the frequency of communication and
interaction between them. Notably, she could harm herself whenever her relationships failed
or faced difficulties in maintaining a positive view of life. Despite having a rough and
traumatic upbringing in the past, she always yearned for affection and whenever she failed to
have it, she will become hysterical and inflict deep cuts into her body.
Question 6
According to the assessment of Dr. Banks, it is determined that the behaviors
displayed by Karen met the DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder. Particularly,

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she exhibited a clear pattern of unstable interrelationship, fear of abandonment and unstable
sense of herself as well as self-image. Furthermore, she showed recurrent suicidal behaviors,
unstable moods, inappropriate anger, a chronic feeling of emptiness and self-harm behaviors.
By showing all these symptoms from the onset of her psychological problems, she meets
almost all the criteria matching borderline personality disorder (American Psychiatry
Association,). Despite being diagnosed late, the signs were consistent from the beginning and
even her roommate Cecily would expect her to become moody and agitated after every failed
relationship with a man.
Question 14
Although therapists would express concerns about the well-being of Karen and their
intention to help her get better, she still displayed therapy-interfering behaviors. First, Karen
showed hopelessness and insisted that there is no need for continuing with the counseling any
longer. Ideally, without positivity in the patients, the success of any therapeutic intervention
is limited significantly (Swales et al. 550). Second, lashing out at her therapist interfered with
her treatment. Notably, she would call her psychologists names and criticize them for what
she considers their failure to understand her.
Question 18
From the intervention of Dr. Banks, Karen has shown significant success in
recovering from her psychological disorder. She has managed to control her anger and
frustration that usually led her to hurt herself and attempting to commit suicide. Furthermore,
Karen has regained control of her mind and emotions in life and even decide to go back to
school and later got a formal job rather than depending on relief. The bottom line is that,
Karen has learned the value of life and can now recognize her inner self like other people.

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Works Cited
American Psychiatry Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5). 5th ed., American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013.
Swales, Michaela Anne et al. "Implementing Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Programme
Survival in Routine Healthcare Settings". Journal of Mental Health, vol. 21, no. 6, 2012,
pp. 548-555.