Online published on 5 March, 2021.
Ms. A, a 19yr old girl came to Psychiatry OPD of a hospital accompanied by her parents. On presentation, Ms. A had scratch with a blade on her left arm and had a history of aggressive behavior, recurrent suicidal behavior threats. She expressed chronic feelings of emptiness and difficulty in controlling anger, unstable relationships with others and sleep disturbances for 2 years. Family environment described by the patient is chaotic and hostile. Her father is alcoholic and mother is a working woman. She had a love affair with a boy in her class. On the mental status examination, she was cooperative and coherent. She had a pattern of unstable relationships with boyfriends. She had potentially self-damaging impulsive behavior like drinking alcohol, physical relationship with boyfriend and elopement from home. No obvious perceptual abnormality was observed. Memory abstraction abilities were intact. Her insight and judgement were limited. Ms. A exhibited aggressive, impulsive, hyperactive behavior and poor impulse control. Based on History, Mental status examination, she was diagnosed to have Borderline Personality Disorder. Both pharmacological and psychological treatment were given to manage this case.
