What personality disorder may present with a frantic effort to avoid abandonment and mood instability?

The presentation of frantic efforts to avoid abandonment and mood instability is characteristic of borderline personality disorder. Individuals with this disorder often experience intense emotional responses and demonstrate a pattern of unstable relationships, self-image, and affect. Mood swings can be rapid, changing from intense happiness to deep sadness or anger within a short time.

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment can lead to behaviors such as clinginess or intense relationships that swing dramatically from idealization to devaluation. These reactions often stem from a deep-seated fear of being abandoned or rejected, making them particularly salient in borderline personality disorder.

In comparison, other personality disorders listed do not encompass the combination of features seen in borderline personality disorder: antisocial personality disorder is typically associated with a disregard for others and lack of empathy; histrionic personality disorder tends to involve excessive attention-seeking and emotionality without the hallmark of abandonment fears; and schizoid personality disorder is characterized by social detachment and a restricted range of emotional expression, rather than instability or fear of abandonment.