Borderline Personality Disorder Case Study Amanda N. Martin Gallaudet University Patient’s Background Information Karen is a 36 year old female recently admitted to the West Raymond Medical Center after overdosing on a combination of sedatives and alcohol. The suicide attempt was made when Gary, the man she had been dating for 3 months, ended the relationship. Unfortunately, Karen’s psychotherapist mentioned that this suicidal effort was the third within the past 2 years (Gorenstein & Comer, 2002). Karen is a victim of a very violent and abusive childhood. Starting from the age 6 and ending by the age of 16, Karen was sexually molested by her father and oldest brother. After graduation from high school, Karen moved away from home to the next county. In hopes of a fresh start, while working as a waitress, Karen began dating and shortly after, married a car salesman 15 years older than she. Regrettably, Karen soon began living a repeat of her upbringing, which included severe possessiveness and physical abuse. Karen never had the opportunity to confront her husband’s abusiveness, because he was killed in a car accident 3 years into their marriage (Gorenstein & Comer, 2002). …show more content…
Karen’s relationship with men never improved. Diagnosis According to the DSM-V (2013), Karen’s symptoms match the following criterion of Borderline Personality Disorder. Her symptoms in relation to the criterion are as follows: I. Borderline Personality Disorder-