A 25-year-old woman presents with intense fear of abandonment, unstable relationships (idealizing then devaluing), identity disturbance, impulsivity, and recurrent self-harm. She describes feeling empty chronically. The DSM-5 Cluster to which this personality disorder belongs is:

• A Cluster A (odd/eccentric)
• B Cluster C (anxious/fearful)
• C Cluster D (not a DSM-5 category)
• D Cluster B (dramatic/emotional/erratic) ✓

Explanation

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) belongs to Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, erratic) alongside Antisocial, Histrionic, and Narcissistic personality disorders. Cluster A (odd/eccentric) includes Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal. Cluster C (anxious/fearful) includes Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive. Cluster D does not exist in DSM-5. DBT is the evidence-based treatment for BPD.

Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.