In assessing a client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which characteristic would the nurse expect to observe?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A Reason:Stable and satisfactory relationships. This statement is incorrect. Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often struggle with maintaining stable and satisfactory relationships. They may experience intense and unstable relationships characterized by extreme fluctuations between idealization and devaluation of others. This instability is a hallmark of BPD and can lead to significant interpersonal difficulties.Choice B Reason:Little tolerance for being alone. This statement is correct. One of the defining characteristics of BPD is a profound fear of abandonment and an intense need for companionship. Individuals with BPD often have little tolerance for being alone and may go to great lengths to avoid real or imagined abandonment. This fear can lead to frantic efforts to maintain relationships, even if they are unhealthy or abusive.Choice C Reason:Predictability. This statement is incorrect. People with BPD typically exhibit unpredictable and impulsive behaviors. Their emotional responses can be intense and rapidly changing, making their behavior difficult to predict. This unpredictability can further complicate their relationships and daily functioning.Choice D Reason:Controlled anger. This statement is incorrect. Individuals with BPD often struggle with controlling their anger. They may experience intense and inappropriate anger, which can be difficult to manage and may result in aggressive or self-destructive behaviors. This difficulty in controlling anger is another key feature of BPD.