Reference no: EM133853510

Case Study, Chapter 18, Personality Disorders

Frank, age 28, is engaged in ongoing supportive therapy through the outpatient clinic. He was diagnosed with a personality disorder when he was 20 years old. His history is significant for limited and unstable relationships with others. He is estranged from his family after they endured years of his manipulative behavior. Frank's sister describes it in these words: "He will pull us in tightly by some urgent emergency--usually a suicide attempt-and then abruptly push us all away telling us we don't understand him and never care enough to try to help. We just can't go through this anymore. My parents have had enough. It's ruined their marriage."

His assessment shows that his mood and affect are labile and volatile. He is impulsive, having attempted suicide on seven different occasions over the past 2 years. Frank reports frequently engaging in unsafe behavior with prostitutes, and he has several homemade tattoos on his arms, back, and neck. He lives in a small two bedroom apartment and has had many different roomates over the last several years. Frank explains that everytime he thinks he has a good roommate, they seem to end up hating him and they move out, leaving him all alone. He is currently looking for a new roommate, as the rent is too expensive for him to pay himself.

1. The behaviors Frank exhibits are associated with which personality disorder? What treatments are most commonly used for this disorder?

2. Create a plan of care for Frank that can be implemented in a community setting. Your plan of care should include your priority nursing diagnosis as well as one other nursing diagnosis, and goals and interventions specific to each one that can be implemented by the nurse.