Abnormal Psychology Disorders Case Vignette

Sample Question: Sherry paraded into the party drunk and continued to drink throughout the night. Laughing and giggling, she flirted with many of the men and to two of them expressed her "deep affection." Twice during the evening she disappeared for almost half an hour, each time with a different man. After a violent argument with one of them, because he took "too long" to get her a drink, she locked herself into the bathroom and attempted to swallow a bottle of aspirin. Her friends encouraged her to go home, but she was afraid to be alone in her apartment. Answer: Sherry exhibits instability in interpersonal relationships, switching from one man to another (Criterion A2). She foresees abandonment when the person takes too long to get her a drink (Criterion A1). She engages in intimate activity without hesitation (Criterion 3), thus showing ignorance about her self-image (Criteria 4). Suicidal behavior is shown by means of locking herself in a room and swallowing the bottle of aspirin (Criterion 5). Five criteria are met under the BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, which is defined as an instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, as well as having high level of impulsivity inthe DSM-5.