Q. Can a person who is diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder also be diagnosed with BPD? I have a student who came to me last year (now 14 yrs. old) who has PDD-NOS. His IQ has dropped from low 90's to 70's in the last year (could be inadequate responses on his part), Extremely short attention, Began exhibiting very rapid bipolar depression,(wild and extreme swings of mood, uncontrollable yelling and running then later, crying spells, suicidal thoughts. Repeating over and over nonsense sentences or commercials he's heard on TV , developing new ritualistic behaviors on a weekly basis, burning and cutting himself, high anxiety. He is beginning to show a tendency to sudden anger, not quite at rage level though. Doctors are perplexed. He has been on Risperdal, Neurontin 1800 mg/day and Lorazepam. There have been very little changes while on all 3 meds. Are we missing something here? Thanks for any ideas. He is temp. in a day treatment facility with Risperdal only to reassess meds and diagnosis. When he was sent, he began to get numb in the hands and dizzy. Numbness gone, still dizzy and throwing up since had to go to treatment facility. He is now despondent.
A. There is absolutely no reason this individual couldn't also have the BPD. It's very, very difficult to get good answers from a person like that. The symptoms are consistent with it. I took care of a 19 year old who had developmental delay and deafness who responded incredibly well to BPD treatment, especially the Prozac/Tegretol combination.