Borderline Personality Disorder Exam Questions and Answers

Borderline Personality Disorder Exam Questions and Answers Borderline personality disorder: characterized by disruptive pattern of instability related to self-identity, interpersonal relationships, and affects, combined with marked impulsivity and destructive behavior interpersonal relationships, self-identity, affect Unstable Interpersonal Relationships: (hallmark indicator of disorder) Extreme fear of abandonment History of unstable attachments Constantly seeking reassurance and validation Idealize others and establish intense relationships that violate others' interpersonal boundaries, which leads to rejection Intense shame and self-hate follow relationship failures and often result in self-injurious behaviors "Best friends" may be healthcare workers because other relationships don't last. Personality disorder enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior deviates from expectations of culture onset in adolescents or early adulthood Inability to relate with empathy or intimacy Social and occupational impairment Occurs in about 10% of the general population Does not perceive self as having a problem BPD Appear more competent than they actually are Set unrealistically high expectations for themselves and, when not met, feel intense shame, self-hate, and self-directed anger One crisis after another Minimal coping skills Intensity of emotions often frightens them and others Others limit their contact with them because of emotional intensity Feelings of intense anger and profound abandonment are long-term problems Unstable Self-Image: Identity Diffusion No sense of their own identity or their personality is poorly developed Commonly direct their actions in accord with the wishes of other people. Ex: "I am a singer because of my mother." Look for someone else to identify with or be like Unstable Affects Affective instability: rapid and extreme shift in mood Core characteristic of BPD Friends may describe as moody, irresponsible, or intense Limited ability to regulate anger, anxiety, sadness, and disgust Cognitive dysfunctions