You are working with a 23-year-old male who responds quickly and strongly to what you perceive are low levels of stress. In addition, he has an intense response to emotional stimuli and is slow to return to his emotional baseline. After completing some research on effective interventions with this individual, you decide to employ dialectical behavior therapy. Which disorder does this scenario best represent?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described best represents borderline personality disorder, which is characterized by emotional instability and intense responses to emotional stimuli. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a commonly used intervention for treating this disorder, as it focuses on emotion regulation and mindfulness skills. Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse may also have emotional dysregulation components, but the intensity of emotion described in the scenario suggests borderline personality disorder as the best choice.

You Are Working with a 23-Year-Old Male Who Responds Quickly