Posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 2001, at 16:44:10
In reply to questions-borderline personality disorder, posted by MM on July 23, 2001, at 1:15:29
> Does anyone have experience with BPD? What about the connection with bipolar?
Some doctors feel that many people who are diagnosed as "borderline" are, in reality, suffering from a variant bipolar disorder, with dysphoric or mixed mania or hypomania (if this is what's going on, an anticonvulsant is more likely to help than lithium is). Certainly, drugs used in the treatment of mania and depression can be effective for this group. There is also some connection to ADHD, and some "borderlines" respond positively to stimulants. Although antipsychotics are often used, I think they're probably unnecessary in most cases.
Borderline-like behavior is occasionally linked to temporal lobe epilepsy. (In this case, it's sometimes called interictal dysphoria.)
> I've read some stuff, but it's kind of unclear what it is. Is it borderline schizophrenia?
No, it has nothing to do with schizophrenia (although a certain group of patients was once viewed as somewhere in between "neurosis" and "psychosis," hence the name "borderline").
> Is it a valid dx?
It's probably overused, but I think it is real.
> If I identify with some of the traits, does that mean I have it, or should I just stick with the BPII dx?
The latter choice seems like a better idea. Almost everybody identifies with at least some of the "borderline" traits.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:71466
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71528.html