Arias: Borderline Personality Disorder

Dr. Janeen DeMarte diagnosed Jodi Arias with Borderline Personality Disorder.  Dr. Robert Geffner was called to the stand during surrebuttal to call the diagnosis into question.  Based on what we've learned about Arias during the course of the trial, does the diagnosis seem to fit?  Below is the diagnostic criteria (source link provided in the title).

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What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

The essential feature of Borderline Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder make frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment (Criterion 1). The perception of impending separation or rejection, or the loss of external structure, can lead to profound changes in self-image, affect, cognition, and behavior. These individuals are very sensitive to environmental circumstances. They experience intense abandonment fears and inappropriate anger even when faced with a realistic time-limited separation or when there are unavoidable changes in plans (e.g., sudden despair in reaction to a clinician's announcing the end of the hour; panic or fury when someone important to them is just a few minutes late or must cancel an appointment). They may believe that this "abandonment" implies they are "bad." These abandonment fears are related to an intolerance of being alone and a need to have other people with them. Their frantic efforts to avoid abandonment may include impulsive actions such as self-mutilating or suicidal behaviors, which are described separately in Criterion 5.

BPD is manifested by a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in (5).
2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation. This is called "splitting."
3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in (5).
5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
   
6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
   
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.
   
8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
   
9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.

Arias: Another Diagnosis

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Dissociative Amnesia

Battered Woman Syndrome

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Dr. Janeen DeMarte, a licensed clinical psychologist, took the stand yesterday as the first witness in the prosecution's rebuttal case.  Under direct examination, she destroyed the testimony of defense witnesses Dr. Richard Samuels and Alyce LaViolette.  Under cross-examination, Jennifer Willmott is looking petty and desperate in her attempt to devalue DeMarte's experience and opinions.  And although DeMarte's C.V. is lightweight in comparison to those of Samuels and LaViolette, it's clear to me she has at least been objective in her assessment of Arias where they clearly were not.  During pretrial investigation, DeMarte tested and evaluated Arias after Samuels but before LaViolette.  LaViolette testified she'd read Dr. DeMarte's report and, apparently, ignored it.

I have to interrupt to get snarky with Willmott.  You'd think she'd have had her hair professionally cut and highlighted, knowing she was going to be on television every day for four months.  I find her messy mop to be very distracting.  But maybe that was the plan.  Anyway, I've not had occasion to make fun of an attorney's hair since Marcia Clark's afro during the O. J. Simpson trial.  An omen?

Is BPD the correct diagnosis?  It's a step in the right direction, an indication of psychopathy, but I still believe Jodi's mental issues go far deeper.  Most people with BPD don't end up as killers, but inappropriate snap rage is certainly a hallmark of the disorder. 

Snark Alert:  Ms. Willmott, what part of "I don't remember" do you suddenly not understand?  Haven't you noticed Dr. DeMarte is actually answering your ridiculous questions when she can?  Are you making up this cross-examination as you go?  Are you even listening to the answers (you keep repeating the same questions over and over)?  Are you confused by having a credible and objective witness on the stand?  Are you seriously implying that Jodi's failure to report physical abuse is proof it actually happened just because that's what battered women do?  Thank God for a lunch break.  My BP was starting to rise.

Jodi and her defense team had a closed meeting with the Judge during the recess.  I noted Jodi appeared frightened when she returned to the courtroom... breathing heavily, swallowing hard and looking more pasty than normal.  The jury entered, then Judge Stephens advised them an issue had arisen and they were being excused for the day.  HLN talking heads all seemed to think Jodi must be feeling ill but I'm not so sure about that.