- Could My 7 Year Old Son Have BPD?
QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
My 7 y/o son was diagnosed ADHD, depressive disorder and possibly bi-polar by his psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. His therapist, a psychologist, says she feels it is borderline personality disorder. She says every time she sees him her diagnosis is reinforced. He is on Risperdal, Prozac, and has finally reached therapeutic level with Depakote ( 75). She says the personality is developed by age 7, and given his history – extremely colicky as a baby and toddler, moodiness, sleep and bowel problems, peer problems – her diagnosis is accurate. His Pediatric Doctor says he is too young for that to be the case. I have read “The Bi-polar Child” by Papolos and see in it my child at times. Can you recommend a book or should I continue to just treat the symptoms and not worry about the “diagnosis”?
Thank you so much!
ANSWER:
The diagnosis or diagnoses are extremely important, as is treating the symptoms. The prescribed medications are excellent ones, and are likely making a huge impact. The BPD appears to start at puberty when the limbic system goes into hyperdrive. Childhood onset bipolar disorder is the most likely diagnosis – although other diagnoses are also possible. “The Bipolar Child” is a sensational book and reference. The questionnaire I use can be found at http://pks.947.myftpupload.com/BiPlrKid.htm. It’s common for individuals with childhood onset bipolar disorder to also get the BPD when puberty begins. A possible help for making additional diagnoses is for both biological parents to take the screening test and look for diagnoses that both parents have.
