A person with a pattern of unstable relationships and impulsive behavior would be diagnosed with which PD?

• A. Borderline personality disorder
• B. Histrionic personality disorder
• C. Schizoid personality disorder
• D. Narcissistic personality disorder

Answer: (A)

Unstable relationships with impulsive behavior are hallmark features of Borderline Personality Disorder. This pattern sits in the dramatic/erratic cluster and is defined by intense, shifting interpersonal connections along with impulsivity that can lead to self-damaging or risky actions. People with this presentation often fear real or imagined abandonment, which fuels the rapid up-and-down in how they relate to others. Histrionic personality disorder focuses more on attention-seeking and dramatic affect, schizoid on detachment and limited emotion, and narcissistic on grandiosity and a need for admiration—features that don’t capture the persistent relationship volatility and impulsivity described here. So, the described pattern most closely matches Borderline Personality Disorder.