The partner of a client with borderline personality disorder calls the clinic and reports coming home from work to find the client with self-inflicted superficial cuts to the arm. The partner tells the nurse, "My partner does something like this every time I have to go away on business. My partner is not serious about doing something really harmful, just trying to stop me from going away." What is the best response by the nurse?

Question

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Clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often make suicidal threats, gestures, and attempts. They may use these behaviors to bring about a response when there is a real or perceived risk of abandonment from a significant other. All suicidal behavior should be taken seriously; the client's current self-injurious action needs to be evaluated to assess whether it involved suicidal intent. Clients with BPD have been known to demonstrate years of benign suicide threats and gestures before completing a suicide. Predicting a client's risk for completing a suicide is difficult due to the impulsive nature of the behavior. (Options A and C) The priority is for the client to be evaluated at the clinic due to the diagnosis and risk for suicide. The partner's response to the client's behavior can be discussed later. (Option B) This is not the priority response; it focuses on the partner's needs rather than the client's. Educational objective: Clients with borderline personality disorder are at very high risk for suicide. Suicidal gestures and attempts must be taken seriously and evaluated for suicidal intent.

The Partner of a Client with Borderline Personality Disorder Calls