In the article, Carol is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which doesn't seem to do her any favors. It makes her defensive, and seems to lead to more distress, as she is seen as "a problem" in her school community, and referred to a psychiatrist for treatment. The idea that personality disorders are "untreatable" (except by medication) seems not only incorrect but inhumane. They seem to obviously constitute a response to trauma, in Carol's case, physical and emotional abuse from her father. Why then, should Carol be treated in another context than reacting to this behavior, albeit in an unhealthy and inappropriate way? The BPD diagnosis muddies the conceptualization of her case, and doesn't seem to contribute much useful information or serve any purpose. The fact remains that Carol has developed a habit to cope with the distress resulting from trauma, and her treatment should involve the replacement of the "cutting" coping mechanism with one that doesn't physically harm her (and the removal from the abusive relationship.)