Psychology

The problems related to assessing and classifying/ diagnosing 16 to 20 year olds with patterns of impulsivity, instability in interpersonal relationships, self image and affect.

By

Asman Patrick Edjawulendeh Sinafer

30045517

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPTS 3

3. DSM - IV - TR CLASSIFICATION 3

4. GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR A PERSONALITY DISORDER 5

(APA, 2000, p. 689)

5. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER 6

(APA 2000, p. 710)

6. PROBLEMS RELATED TO ASSESSING AND CLASSIFYING/DIAGNOSING 6

16 TO 20 YEAR OLDS WITH PATTERNE OF IMPULSIVITY, INSTABILITY IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, SELF- IMAGE AND AFFECT.

7. CONCLUSION 8

REFERENCE LIST 9

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this assignment is to discuss the problems related to assessing and classifying or diagnosing 16 to 20 year olds with patterns of impulsivity, instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and affect. On the basis of a review of the literature, the author provides a survey of the Personality Disorders in general and the Borderline Personality Disorder in particular, looking at their DSM-IV-TR classification and diagnosis. Then the problems faced by a clinician when diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder is discussed.

DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPTS

According to the Oxford dictionary of psychology, personality disorders refer to a category of mental disorders, with onset not later than early childhood, characterised by pervasive, inflexible and enduring patterns of cognition, affect, interpersonal behaviour, or impulse control that deviate markedly from culturally shared expectations and lead to significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Borderline Personality Disorder is a personality disorder characterised by a pervasive pattern of impulsivity and...