Posted by Apperceptor on March 7, 2004, at 14:43:49
In reply to It does help, but brings up another ?? » gardenergirl, posted by Racer on March 7, 2004, at 14:03:00
Racer-
I must defer to gardnergirl, as she is further along in her clinical training than I am and I feel she knows her stuff.
In my experience/training, BPD is overdiagnosed, particularly in women (and especially in female schoolteachers, for some reason). Very few clinicians have a solid idea of what BPD is. The term "borderline" began because from an object relations / psychodynamic point of view, the tendencies experienced in BPD are equated with a level of functioning that is on the "borderline" between "neurotic" and "psychotic." What do you think of that? Many people disagree with the notion. I think it has SOME merit, but very limited. We all get a little questionable at times :-)
I feel the same way as gardnergirl...sickened by the people who have the bizarre nerve to "threaten" you with a diagnosis. Have you considered reporting the psychologist/psychiatrist who used the diagnosis as a threat to a state (or provincial) ethics board? If you need help locating the contact information I'd be happy to help. That is absolutely horrible.
As someone who has a few diagnoses of my own, as well as someone training in psychology, I do not think diagnosis in mental health is valid outside of insurance and referral purposes. I do not support the medical model. I do believe that mental illness is partially due to biological factors...HOWEVER, I do not believe they can be pigeonholed into a diagnostic category. For example, find me two people with "depression" who have anything resembling the same problem.....?
Take care-
poster:Apperceptor
thread:321635
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040303/msgs/321665.html