Kellevision

Personality Disorders

A lot of clients I see are diagnosed with Axis I disorders like Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder when in actuality, they are suffering from a Personality Disorder.  Personality Disorders are rarely discussed because they ultimately cannot be medicated and require long term psychotherapy.  Insurance companies do not cover them and, at least where I live, the county mental health authority does not treat them.  So in order for people with Personality Disorders to get any help, they are mislabeled as one of the "Big Three" (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder or Major Depression) - disorders which are covered by most systems.  I think this is a great disservice to patients and clients.  People have a right to know what is really going on with them and what the proper treatment provided.  What are Personality Disorders?

Bipolar vs. Borderline vs. Histrionic vs. PTSD

I continue to see numerous clients who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and placed on medication.  They often complain of "mood swings" and state this as the reason for being "Bipolar".  Yet when I talk to them I find that what they often are is "emotional".  This emotionality can be the result of circumstances in their lives (divorce, death of a loved one, job loss) or from a diagnosis other than Bipolar Disorder.  What are these diagnoses and why does this trend to overdiagnose and medicate for Bipolar Disorder concern me?