When Spencer first started dating Melissa, their relationship quickly became very intense. But after a couple of weeks, Spencer became increasingly uneasy because Melissa seemed to constantly need his attention and reassurances of his commitment to her. When Melissa showed up unexpectedly at Spencer's office to have lunch with him, she became enraged when Spencer told her that he was taking two important clients to lunch. Shortly after this incident, Spencer tried to break off the relationship with Melissa. It turned into an ugly scene, with her screaming profanities at him in the middle of the street. Several days later, Spencer learned that Melissa had been hospitalized for overdosing on tranquilizers. Melissa's pattern of behavior seems to fit:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Melissa's intense emotions, need for constant attention and reassurance, difficulty with rejection, and impulsive behaviors (such as overdosing on tranquilizers) suggest Borderline Personality Disorder. This disorder is characterized by intense and unstable emotions, an unstable sense of self, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, and difficulty with relationships. The abrupt ending of the relationship and Melissa's extreme reaction to it are also typical of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.

When Spencer First Started Dating Melissa, Their Relationship Quickly Became