PYC4802
Assignment 3 2025
Unique Number:
Due Date: August 2025
CHALLENGES IN DIAGNOSING BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: CLINICAL
AND CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1. INTRODUCTION
Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD, is a serious mental health condition that affects how
a person feels, thinks, and behaves. It often leads to unstable emotions, poor self-image, and
difficulties in building and keeping relationships. Diagnosing this disorder can be hard
because its symptoms look like other mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar
disorder. People with BPD often feel intense emotions, fear being left alone, and may act in
risky or self-harming ways.
This essay will first explain the criteria used to diagnose personality disorders, especially
BPD, according to the DSM-5. It will then look at the main signs of BPD and how it affects
people’s daily lives. The next part will focus on the problems that mental health professionals
face when trying to diagnose this disorder. For example, the symptoms can be different in
every person, and many people with BPD also have other mental health issues, making
diagnosis more confusing.
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
Finally, this essay will explore how these challenges play out in the South African context. In
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
Assignment 3 2025
Unique Number:
Due Date: August 2025
CHALLENGES IN DIAGNOSING BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: CLINICAL
AND CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1. INTRODUCTION
Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD, is a serious mental health condition that affects how
a person feels, thinks, and behaves. It often leads to unstable emotions, poor self-image, and
difficulties in building and keeping relationships. Diagnosing this disorder can be hard
because its symptoms look like other mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar
disorder. People with BPD often feel intense emotions, fear being left alone, and may act in
risky or self-harming ways.
This essay will first explain the criteria used to diagnose personality disorders, especially
BPD, according to the DSM-5. It will then look at the main signs of BPD and how it affects
people’s daily lives. The next part will focus on the problems that mental health professionals
face when trying to diagnose this disorder. For example, the symptoms can be different in
every person, and many people with BPD also have other mental health issues, making
diagnosis more confusing.
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
Finally, this essay will explore how these challenges play out in the South African context. In
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
