Posted by Elizabeth on April 17, 1999, at 22:43:28
In reply to Chemical imbalance, posted by Erik on April 3, 1999, at 21:38:40
Erik,
As others have noted, "split personalities" could mean a number of things and isn't specific enough.
I dislike the expression "chemical imbalance" because it has become rather loaded - people have an idea that if something is "chemical" (of course it's chemical. duh), then it's genetic, beyond the person's control, and the correct treatment is drugs and drugs only. This is almost certainly not the case with eating disorders.
My suspicion is that your wife's depression is only a part of something bigger - possibly dissociative identity disorder (used to be called (misleadingly) "multiple personality disorder"), or possibly a less extreme form known (also misleadingly) as borderline personality disorder. Bipolar II disorder might be involved as well (either way, anticonvulsants could be indicated). She definitely needs to see a psychiatrist to get an accurate diagnosis so that a treatment plan can be formulated, but I'm afraid that your father is destined for disappointment.
Good luck to you and your family.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:4379
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/5005.html