Alzheimer’s Delirium and Dementia Q 24


Andy is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Nurse Hilary should expect the assessment to reveal:
  
     A. Coldness, detachment, and lack of tender feelings
     B. Somatic symptoms
     C. Inability to function as responsible parent
     D. Unpredictable behavior and intense interpersonal relationships
    
    

Correct Answer: D. Unpredictable behavior and intense interpersonal relationships
A client with borderline personality displays a pervasive pattern of unpredictable behavior, mood, and self-image. Interpersonal relationships may be intense and unstable and behavior may be inappropriate and impulsive. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by hypersensitivity to rejection and resulting instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affect, and behavior. Borderline personality disorder causes significant impairment and distress and is associated with multiple medical and psychiatric co-morbidities.
Option A: A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects as well as marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood. The client exhibits affective instability caused by a marked reactivity of mood, for example, intense episodic dysphoria, anxiety, or irritability, usually lasting a few hours and rarely more than a few days.
Option B: Somatic symptom disorder involves a person having a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness, or shortness of breath, that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors relating to the physical symptoms.
Option C: A personality disorder is a disorder involving a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking. Personality disorders are prevalent in the general population and more so in clinical populations. In the pediatric population, all personality disorders can be diagnosed, except antisocial personality disorder, as long as the pathologic behavior has been present for a year or more.