Borderline personality disorder
Year: 2015
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: Chapter 17Borderline Personality Disorder arnoud arntzBorderline personality disorder (BPD) can be characterized by the remarkable instability that pervades many if not all aspects of personality functioning, including relationships, self-image, affect, and behavior.For example, Natasha, a 29-year-old who had been married for several years, sought help after being "too tired" to work for more than a year, lying in bed for most of the day.Her problems seemed to have started with a relationship conflict at work that affected her performance.She started an affair with her boss, despite his engagement to another woman.Natasha ended it when he proceeded with the marriage that he had planned before the affair.She felt strongly disappointed by him and started an affair with someone else.According to Natasha, her boss resented this, gave her work below her former level, and criticized her so much in front of other personnel that she became "burned out."Diagnostic impression after the first interview was an adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features and relational problems.After the second interview, the picture was much more complicated.She described her marriage as characterized by lots of fights and aggressive threats, expressed resentment toward her family, and admitted high use of cannabis and alcohol.She repeatedly said that she found that life had no use and expressed mistrust of other people.When asked what should be done in treatment, her answers were rather vague, such as "I have to feel at home with myself."Although the therapist thought that Natasha probably suffered from high levels of anxiety, sadness, and loneliness, she presented a tough appearance, and it was easy to imagine how this could provoke others to anger.
Authors: Arntz, A., Beck, A.T., Davis, D.D., Freeman, A.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7055133839