![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 0:08:07
has always been a troubled soul, ever since she was a kid (severe seperation anxiety when she started pre scghool etc) and has had a lot of problems ever since.
Last week she lost it completely, raving mad for want of a better term, her daughter had to get into a physical fight with her to stop her taking 200 Tylenol, she threw her husband and kids out, and was literaly running about in the street raving when they finaly took her away.
The docs at the hospital tentatively diagnosed dissacociateve personality disorder, which seems to be a modern medical term for split personality.
I had always thought that this was so rare that two headed babies were more common, andbody able to give me some infomation beyone whats on wiki?
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 0:20:07
In reply to My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 0:08:07
She had previously been taking paroxetine, dexamphetamine and clonidine
The hospital stopped the amphetamine and started her on some olanzapine, she seems much better after only 3 days on it, and has been released home, with instructions to see a psychiatrist and a psychologist each week for a long time
Posted by SLS on February 24, 2014, at 1:52:27
In reply to My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 0:08:07
What was your sister raving about? What was she saying?
Was she psychotic with paranoid or other delusions and/or hallucinations? If so, were the hallucinations auditory or visual? Were her speech and thoughts completely disorganized (word salads)?
Is it Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) that you were told she had? What were some of the things taken into consideration to make that diagnosis? It doesn't sound right to me, although I would defer to true doctors. It kind of reminds me more of an expression of bipolar I disorder. Perhaps that is why the episode resolved so quickly upon the administration of Zyprexa. Does she ever get depressed? The drugs she was taking might be suspect in the precipitation of a manic episode. Is this the first time that she has had this type of episode? There are so many things to be taken into consideration. Is there any more information that you can work with?
What about a severe episode (acting out) of borderline personality disorder? This can resemble bipolar disorder. Has BPD ever been discussed? Perhaps there are two things going on at once here (comorbidities).
I don't know. I wish I did. It is heartbreaking to see your sister suffer so much for such a long period of time.
I am sure there are people here who can help you a lot more than I can.
I wish your sister and your entire family peace. I would remain hopeful.
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 3:31:21
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by SLS on February 24, 2014, at 1:52:27
Sorry, yes, it is Dissociative Identity Disorder according to the docs - I'm guessing tis is based on her saying that she has no recolection of te 2 days prior to er being sectioned (to me this sonds like a polite fiction, but te docs must beleive its genuian)
I am 3000km away on the other side of te country, so details are a bit sketcy, but apparently te doctors didnt think she was psycotic on admission, and for whatever reason tey have ruled out bipolar.
I have often wondered about borderline personality disorder, bt of course thats all an amatur like me can do.
After a bit of reading, DID seems to be associated mainly wit severe neglect or abse as a child - we werent neglected, so I am now starting to tink the unthinkable, did one of te men in our life abse her?
I was going to fly home when it append, bt her sband and te doctors advised me not to - to allow her to have atleast one person who was close to her wo wasnt part of "it"
Posted by SLS on February 24, 2014, at 7:17:43
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 3:31:21
> I was going to fly home when it append, bt her sband and te doctors advised me not to - to allow her to have atleast one person who was close to her wo wasnt part of "it"
That must be very frustrating. Are you taking it personally?
Will you be able to stay updated on your sister's progress?
- Scott
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 24, 2014, at 8:44:28
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on February 24, 2014, at 7:17:43
I've heard that with women, they sometimes go to personality disorders just...cuz they're female, basically. Is the diagnosing doc male or female?
Also, sometimes docs use personality disorders cuz they wanna do some psychobabbling. I was diagnosed with severe narcissism at 20. Turns out (surprise, surprise), its some kinda mood and psychosis thing. Lucky me :-(
Posted by Phillipa on February 24, 2014, at 8:54:27
In reply to My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 0:08:07
Since she is in a different part of the country it's hard. Is her husband supportive? Jono I don't understand it either. Can you personally talk with the doc with permission from your Sister of course? Phillipa
Posted by Twinleaf on February 24, 2014, at 9:40:28
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on February 24, 2014, at 8:54:27
Dissociation is now thought to occur in varying degrees - from a little to a lot-in many emotional disorders where trauma and interpersonal stress play prominent roles. It is simply a way of not feeling the full impact of very painful situations. The causes can range from childhood trauma to current difficult situations.
The best treatment is psychotherapy, where a client can gradually feel safe and supported enough to face and deal with emotionally painful situations. With appropriate treatment, the prognosis can be very good. Dissociation is basically an emotional defense against pain, and is nothing like schizophrenia.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 17:48:47
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder » Phillipa, posted by Twinleaf on February 24, 2014, at 9:40:28
I'm phoning every second night to see how she is (much better) and to keep up with her progress.
Stopping the dexamphetamine and starting the olanzapine seems to have been a big help.
I'll be flying down to see her in a couple of weeks - the doctors just advised me not to come while she was accutely disturbed and detained in the hospital
Posted by baseball55 on February 24, 2014, at 19:15:19
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 17:48:47
Sorry about your sister. I hope things get better for her.
When I was in and out of hospitals/day programs, I heard a lot of people mention DID. Seemed only women diagnosed with this. But I was never clear on what dissociation meant, no matter how many times it was explained to me. Maybe you have to experience it yourself.
Posted by Phillipa on February 24, 2014, at 20:30:37
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 17:48:47
Jono sounds good. Are the reports getting better? Phillipa
Posted by Twinleaf on February 24, 2014, at 20:38:09
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder » Phillipa, posted by Twinleaf on February 24, 2014, at 9:40:28
Men definitely do it, too! It's one of the most common ways of coping with emotional pain. But in much rarer cases, it's so extensive that the person appears to have different selves at different times, and when they are in a particular self-state, they tend not to recall other emotional states.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 21:48:06
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by Twinleaf on February 24, 2014, at 20:38:09
Phillipa, yes, reports are getting better
Until 2 weeks ago, the extent of my knowelege of this disorder was limited to remembering one of the doctors in The Exorcist saying "Mrs McNeil, there havent been more than one hundered authentic cases of split personality"
I guess I'm learning fast
Posted by SLS on March 4, 2014, at 6:56:50
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 24, 2014, at 21:48:06
Hi Jono.
How is your sister doing?
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on March 12, 2014, at 1:27:56
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on March 4, 2014, at 6:56:50
She's a lot better - taking olanzapine, and seeing a psychologist every week, and gaining insight into her condition and her self.
The psychaitrist she was refered to was less helpful - he pinned everything on the fact that she takes dexamphetamine 5mg three times a day (had ADD as a kid, and never stopped taking it)
Given that shes been on it for 30 years, I think its rather unlikelt that this small dose would suddenly send her off the rails
Posted by SLS on March 12, 2014, at 6:52:34
In reply to Re: My Sister - Disacociative Personality Disorder, posted by jono_in_adelaide on March 12, 2014, at 1:27:56
Hi Jono
This is good news. Thanks for the update.
> She's a lot better - taking olanzapine, and seeing a psychologist every week, and gaining insight into her condition and her self.
What condition is she struggling with?
> The psychaitrist she was refered to was less helpful - he pinned everything on the fact that she takes dexamphetamine 5mg three times a day (had ADD as a kid, and never stopped taking it)
>
> Given that shes been on it for 30 years, I think its rather unlikelt that this small dose would suddenly send her off the railsYou say that your sister has had difficulties for many years. I understand that a doctor should want to take a look at the amphetamine that she has taken for many years. I am not commenting on the likelihood that amphetamine is a problem, but it might warrant a closer look if she should decompensate again. I guess it would depend on the sympomatology exhibited. Amphetamine in borderline personality disorder can produce psychosis or make impulsivity worse. However, when ADHD is comorbid with BPD, the coadministration with amphetamine with a low dose of antipsychotic might produce the desired outcome.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.