Diagnosed Bipolar but could be Borderline

[Ravee1984]

My sister was diagnosed with Bipolar Disease about four years ago.  Recently she was sent to a Residental treatment center and the doctor there doesn't believe she is.  He said she should have been stable on with all the medications she was on, Lithium, Risperidol, Trileptal, and Abilify.  He believes it is Borderline Personality Disorder.  Could it be both?  Will she ever get better.  And should she be on medication?

[hey_its_AMS]

From what I know about a person with BPD, it's incurable.  I'm currently taking a psychology of abnormal personality class where we have to read about real cases of different abnormal personalities and when I got to the one with BPD, it said at the end that really, it's incurable.  This lady had months of therapy and nothing could control her when something bad would happen.  The case didn't end up in her favor because she did something bad to herself.  I doubt there's medication to help because it's the way of thinking.  Bipolar and this have some differences but I think one would be able to tell if she were borderline or bipolar.  Get a third opinion to break the tie up.  

I believe my sister is borderline as well.  She is an enigma.  One second she's in the best mood and the next if I were to ask for something of mine I need back that she borrowed, she screams and cusses and yells for something as simple as that.  I even ask in a calm voice and she goes crazy on me.  They're also suicidal and needy with uncontrollable irrational anger issues.  They always need someone with them and fear they'll be left.  In bipolar, they'll be in this "high" for weeks or longer and then out of nowhere they'll go to a complete "low" depression for weeks or months.  There's a difference.  I would look it up also if I were you to find differences.  

[jdtm]

I doubt it is both (although I suppose it is possible).  Medication can be prescribed for BPD's but usually it is for co-morbid issues as anxiety, depression or eating disorders.  I have read where "some" have recovered from this disorder, but most people with this disorder deny there is a problem (or blame others) and therefore, it is extremely difficult to treat.

[ElizabethS1]

Hi,

Don't read TOO much into the labels that "Professionals" must put on people, in order to "Treat". If any given person on a bad day read the phamplet on BPD> this could be ANYONE! If a person is displaying these "Symptoms", yes, they probably should be medicated. This too should ONLY be a temp measure, to ensure that the person remains safe, and receives therapy. The sad fact is, is that most will only be medicated/labeled and released, with no added therapy.

Good luck
Eliz