Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 26411

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What the heck is Personality Disorder?

Posted by Carolyn on March 8, 2000, at 22:07:33

I recently had to have my p-doc fill out a FMLA form for me to get time off from work. I asked him to send me a copy. For the diagnosis he listed 1) Major Depressive Disorder, 2) Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Does anyone know what that means?

Re: What the heck is Personality Disorder?

Posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 10:26:36

In reply to What the heck is Personality Disorder?, posted by Carolyn on March 8, 2000, at 22:07:33

I got news for your doc. Everyone in the world could be diagnosed with Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

Some docs like to use axis 2 diagnoses (personality disorders, etc.) and some don't. Essentially they signify that there are long-standing difficulties built into the person's personality that preceded the current problem (depression, etc.), and that in order to "get better" the person would need long term therapy to unlearn dysfunctional ways of relating to people and self, and learn more functional ones.

Very controversial. Akiskal, whom Elizabeth has dubbed "DA MAN" when it comes to chronic depressive illness, has said that a lot of so called personality disorders are really the result of undiagnosed bipolar II or rapid cycling cyclothymia. As it happens, apparently rapid cycling bipolar illness is more common in, you guessed it, women. And the rapid cycling, more irritable, less blatantly manic forms of this illness, can seem like personality problems. This is the same for other chronic depressions, without any hypomania.

I also think there are docs out there who use axis two diagnoses as a defense when they are confronted with a difficult case that makes them feel powerless. Patient not getting better right away? Chalk it up to a personality disorder.

Anyway, it is not that I think there are NO people in the world with this kind of problem, but I do think that there are many times when it is used inappropriately.

Re: What the heck is Personality Disorder?

Posted by Linda on March 9, 2000, at 12:16:37

In reply to What the heck is Personality Disorder?, posted by Carolyn on March 8, 2000, at 22:07:33

> I recently had to have my p-doc fill out a FMLA form for me to get time off from work. I asked him to send me a copy. For the diagnosis he listed 1) Major Depressive Disorder, 2) Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Does anyone know what that means?]

There are three "clusters" of maladaptive personalities:

1. "Dramatic" cluster (includes: histrionic, narcissistic, borderline & antisocial personalities).
2. "Anxious or fearful" cluster (includes: avoidant, dependent, obsessive compulsive & passive aggressive personalities).
3. "Odd or eccentric cluster" (includes paranoid, schizotypal & schizoid personalities.

"Personality disorder not otherwise specified" is what the doc used for a diagnosis code for insurance purposes - he/she just didn't bother to code specifically. Hope I didn't "babble" on too much . . . Linda : )

Re: What the heck is Personality Disorder?

Posted by PattyG on March 10, 2000, at 11:45:22

In reply to Re: What the heck is Personality Disorder?, posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 10:26:36

Very controversial. Akiskal, whom Elizabeth has dubbed "DA MAN" when it comes to chronic depressive illness,
has said that a lot of so called personality disorders are really the result of undiagnosed bipolar II or rapid cycling
cyclothymia. As it happens, apparently rapid cycling bipolar illness is more common in, you guessed it, women.
And the rapid cycling, more irritable, less blatantly manic forms of this illness, can seem like personality problems.
This is the same for other chronic depressions, without any hypomania.

///Noa - That is very interesting. I've often wondered, if say, BPD could really be more accurately explained for some folks as Bipolar II. Need to know more about it and isn't it rather difficult to differentiate?

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