Borderline Personality Disorder Case Study

Giovanna Eynaudi Ms. Seeker’s patterns of personality pathology and pathological personality traits meets the diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder. According to the information provided in the DSM-5, the characteristic feature of Borderline Personality Disorder is the pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationship, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts (p. 663). In Ms. Seeker’s case, she clearly has a pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects, and control over impulses as she meets more than five of the criteria required for by the DSm-5 to receive the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. Mrs.
Since hearing of her mother's pregnancy, Ms. Seeker has begun drinking heavily, has experiences episodes of depersonalization (as she describes as “feeling like she was removed from her body and in a trance”), and has been anxious, depressed, and suicidal. These symptoms are characteristic features of transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms, though of insufficient severity or duration to warrant an additional diagnosis (DSM-5, p.) Considering Mrs. Seeker description, and the information provided in this case, the diagnosis of a possible dissociative disorder should be ruled out. The diagnosis of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder as an explanation for her recent symptoms of depersonalization is unnecessary as her symptoms of detachment or being outside of her body are an example of the transient stress-related psychotic experiences that are often a feature of borderline personality disorder. For instance, and based on criterion E for Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder, the disturbance caused by the experiences of depersonalization should not be attributable to the psychological effects of another mental disorder (DSM-5, p.