Case Study
Patient Demographic: Client Age: Client 1: Age 18 Client 2: Age 21 Client 3: Age 22 Client 4: Age 19 Client 5: Age 18 Sex: Male and female Gender: Male and female Sexuality: Heterosexual Ethnicity: Multiracial Relationship Status: All members are single Counseling Setting: Counseling clinicType of Counseling: Group and individual counseling Presenting Problem: All individuals are seeking support for struggles related to borderline personality disorder. Diagnosis: Borderline personality disorder (F60.3)
Mental Status Exam: Mental Status Exam: All clients appear to be oriented to time, situation, location, and person. The clients are all dressed appropriately for the weather. No clients appear to experience any visual or auditory hallucinations. Most of the clients are presenting as friendly but gua
Presenting Problem: You are a licensed therapist running a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) group for young adults. You also provide a weekly individual counseling session for each group member, which is common practice for DBT group therapy. During the first session, you provide psychoeducation on DBT and the group process. Most of the members seem closed off and sometimes aggressive in response to being asked to speak during the first session, which can be consistent with borderline personality disorder. Client 3 becomes upset about halfway through the session, stating that he does not need to participate because the group will eventually end, so he does not need to build relationships with the group members. You end the session by planning individual therapy sessions with each group member.
Other Contexts: You meet with the group and continue DBT psychoeducation regarding distress tolerance. About halfway through the group, you notice that client 4 has not shared much, and you ask her about this. The client states that every time she wants to talk, she cannot find a way into the conversation because others are talking. This group is in the working stage of group therapy, they are actively engaged in the session, and they are all also actively engaged in individual therapy.  You suspect that client 1 is actually experiencing symptoms consistent with antisocial personality disorder

Question: You suspect that client 1 is actually experiencing symptoms consistent with antisocial personality disorder. Which one of the following statements best characterizes antisocial personality disorder?
(A): Severe introversion that keeps the individual from participating in daily activities
(B): Disregarding or violating the rights of others
(C): Argumentative/irritable/defiant behavior
(D): Grandiosity, lack of empathy, and a need for admiration

Correct Answer: Disregarding or violating the rights of others
Explanation: Antisocial personality disorder is defined by behavior that violates or disregards the rights of others. Argumentative, defiant, and irritable behaviors characterize oppositional defiance disorder, which is defined by persistent opposition to authority figures. Grandiosity, a need for admiration, and lack of empathy characterize narcissistic personality disorder. Severe introversion is not specific to antisocial personality disorder and would likely need further assessment to determine its cause. Therefore, the correct answer is (A)
Competency: intake, assessment, and diagnosis