Do patients with borderline personality disorder who are free of any diagnosable mood disorders respond to mood stabilizers?
In a recent study, patients with borderline personality disorder but no diagnosable mood disorder were treated with Lamictal (lamotragine), up to 300 milligrams per day, after they had not responded to antidepressants and other mood stabilizers. These patients had a history of suicidal behavior, hostile depression and/or labile (rapidly shifting) moods, stimulant and alcohol abuse, and multiple unprotected sexual encounters. Over fifty percent of the patients responded. Impulsive sexuality, drug taking and suicidal behaviors disappeared and those who responded no longer met the criteria for borderline personality disorder. Q: In people with bipolar disorder, does treatment with a mood stabilizer reduce any substance abuse problems they may have? A: Substance abusing individuals with bipolar disorder who are treated with a mood stabilizer show not only an improvement in mood, but also in the substance abuse. However, specific treatments of substance abuse may be required in addition to
