As the horrific details of the Jodi Arias trial continue to spill into our living rooms, psychiatrists and casual observers seem to have a theory about the killer’s mental state.
She has been “diagnosed” as a narcissist, a pathological liar, with bipolar disorder, and a psychopath (which I discussed in a recent post ). But the most common diagnosis recently is borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Arias is not the only high-profile individual to carry the BPD label. There are also Casey Anthony, Sandy Hook school shooter Adam Lanza, Colorado shooter James Holmes, and Robert Kennedy Jr.’s wife, Mary. It’s almost to the point where BPD has become the default explanation for anyone with inexplicable behavior.
The term borderline personality disorder entered the mental health lexicon in 1938 when Adolph Sturm described patients who appeared to suffer from a mild form of schizophrenia. He described the patients as being on the borderline between neurosis and psychosis. Borderline personality disorder didn’t appear in the DSM until 1980.
It was thought to overlap with schizophrenia and non-schizophrenic psychosis and was used to describe overlapping symptoms that failed to fit neatly into any one diagnostic category. That explains a lot about where we are today.
Although borderline personality disorder is a legitimate disorder and is listed in the DSM-IV, it remains highly controversial. The problem is that many of these behaviors can be applied to other Axis I diagnoses such as mood disorders, PTSD, and the anxiety spectrum. The new DSM-5 will address the controversies surrounding borderline personality disorder, but that’s a discussion for another day.
According to the DSM-IV, five or more of the following symptoms must be present to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Let’s take a look at the list and see how Jodi Arias scores based on what we see/read/hear in the media. (Full disclaimer, this is just speculation; I have not rated Jodi Arias.)
- Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
Travis Alexander was trying to break up with Arias. When he started to pull away, her behavior changed. She threatened suicide, showed up at his house uninvited, hacked into his online accounts, and slashed the tires on his car. She was afraid of being dumped, and she wouldn’t let him leave her without a fight.
Arias was also extremely jealous, following Alexander on dates he wasn’t with. She also cornered Clancy Talbot, a friend of his, in the women’s bathroom during a conference.
Arias recorded several sexual conversations, and these recordings are believed to have been frantic attempts to cling to Alexander in case he tried to leave her.
She certainly meets this criterion, at least as far as Travis is concerned.
- A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating extremes of idealization and devaluation.
Arias had several failed relationships and shared negative stories about why they didn’t work out. But there was no evidence that she considered previous relationships ideal, and who hasn’t said some negative things about their ex?
Arias spoke very fondly of Alexander, right up until his death, and idealized him. She was also very possessive. Now that he is dead, she claims he was a sexual pervert and child molester.
Although Arias may be experiencing these symptoms about Alexander, there is no other pattern of behavior.
- Identity Disorder: A markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
Judy did whatever Alexander wanted—or suggested—as long as it kept him interested. It was all about him, and it kept him interested in her.
Identity disorder and self-image instability do not apply here. She became whatever Alexander wanted, but she was fully aware of what she was doing. She was involved and loved it. It was a conscious decision with a purpose.
- Impulsiveness in at least two areas that could be self-destructive (e.g., spending, sex, drug use, reckless driving, overeating).
We have become very familiar with the intense sexual practices that took place between Alexander and Arias. Let us not forget that after the murder, she threw Alexander’s camera containing incriminating photos in the washing machine, rather than packing it up with the rest of the evidence.
Arias would call Alexander from work, only to drop whatever she was doing and come after him if he didn’t answer her calls. She kicked the family dog. She kicked her mother. In fits of anger, she punctured his tires twice. The same could be said of hacking into his email and sending threatening emails to a potential rival. She also sent derogatory text messages to women from Alexander’s phone while he was in the bathroom. In the interrogation room, she kicked chairs, sang, berated herself for not wearing makeup, and stood on her head.
Arias was very reckless.
- Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats, or self-mutilation behavior.
Jodi claims that she was planning to kill herself. While in custody, she sustained a few minor scratches, claiming that she tried to cut her wrists, but it was too painful. She wrote in her diary, “I wish I could die.” But there is no record of an actual suicide attempt, and no record of self-mutilation.
- Emotional instability due to a pronounced mood reaction (e.g., severe, intermittent mood swings, irritability, or anxiety that usually lasts a few hours and rarely lasts more than a few days).
Arias’ moods could change quickly, but she had a good reason – Alexander trying to end the relationship.
Arias’ moods may have changed in the blink of an eye, but there were reasons. Borderline personality disorder mood swings range from high to low, from irritability and despair to hypomania and euphoria. This is often regardless of the circumstances and is emotionally unstable.
Arias’ temperaments were directly related to the situation with Alexander. As long as things were going well, they were; but when he tried to end it, she would fall apart. This seemed to happen several times.
- Chronic feelings of emptiness.
According to those who knew Jodi, she was very assertive and confident. There is no clear history of feelings of emptiness. However, we can speculate that she felt like she was nothing without Travis, which is why she couldn’t leave him. Again, this is specific to her relationship with Alexander, not Jodi’s personality.
- Inappropriate extreme anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of anger, constant rage, frequent physical fights).
Arias would have temper tantrums, but only when the relationship was threatened. These tantrums were directed at Alexander and potential female rivals.
Before Travis, we simply had no record of extreme anger. Her diary notes that she once kicked her mother in a fit of anger. But no recurring pattern was seen.
- Transient paranoid thoughts associated with stress or severe dissociative symptoms.
Arias claims that Alexander was abusive, but this seems like a way to justify her actions. Paranoia is excessive or irrational suspicion of others. She did not believe that Alexander was intending to set her up; she was afraid that he would leave her. Arias was not paranoid. The threat of losing the relationship was real, not imagined.
So, according to DSM IV criteria, Jodi Arias would come close to borderline personality if we were to look only at her relationship with Alexander. But borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder by definition. It generally begins in adolescence and is seen over time with many people, in many situations and circumstances.
But that’s not the case here, and it highlights the dangers of a typical psychiatrist trying to put a label on someone they’ve never met. It’s easy to read the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and assign someone symptoms, but there’s a lot more that goes into a true diagnosis.
As this twisted experiment of sex, lies, and dirty little secrets continues, the danger remains that commentators, news anchors, lawyers, and slackers will continue to label and diagnose Jodi Arias. The more speculation there is, the higher the ratings and the more engaged the viewership. Borderline personality disorder sounds cool and sophisticated. It makes you feel like you know what to say when discussing behavior, and it’s certainly better than no answer. But this particular psychiatric diagnosis is a huge challenge, even for experts in a controlled clinical setting. It has nothing to do with Jodi Arias’ actions or behavior.
