BPD traits - impulsive.
 

I had an appointment with a new psych and I saw that it had written down "traits of bpd - implusive". It's something that has been on my notes since at least 2017 as it was on psych letters from that date.

What is meant by above? I dont think it's very accurate. I have never been offered dbt or any other form of treatment. I still have the schizophrenia diagnosis which I believe to be correct. I dont want everything blamed on the bpd.

It's probably worth asking your psych and telling them you don't feel it's accurate.

Do you feel your treatment has changed as a result of this or do things feel much the same? If they're the same, it doesn't seem like they're blaming everything on BPD otherwise the treatment would probably be different as you've identified.

No they haven't changed my meds for years as they're keeping my schizophrenia stable. I do have black and white thinking and I keep on thinking that they've put that on whilst I was actively self harming. I haven't been angry since 2006 and never shown any anger towards my cc or psych so I haven't got anger issues. I dont believe that the reckless behaviour has ever applied to me. I dont believe the criteria applies to me in the past few years apart from the black and white thinking!

Having one trait of BPD doesn't mean that you have that diagnosis. Also, you don't need to have every single trait as I'm sure you know. I have BPD and don't get angry. Maybe in 2017 that came up and people just want to keep it recorded for reference since they're not keen on removing old notes etc. Can you talk to your CC since you don't know the new psych? I think it's important that you let someone know how you feel and what your beliefs are and get a chance to discuss things.

I understand how frustrating it can be to be given a diagnosis that you don’t feel applies to you. Could you ask them to explain why they feel it fits? Thing is reckless behaviour, anger, self harm are only a few of nine traits that make up a diagnosis. And they’ve said you have ‘traits’ so less than the 5/9 needed to have a ‘full’ diagnosis and things can also change overtime. The traits can also include relationship difficulties that cause you anxiety in being with people or managing when certain people aren’t around, suicidal ideation, paranoia in times of stress that is transient and some others. You don’t have to fit a specific combination to be given that ‘label’

Also, (and I’m not saying you ado this, because frankly I don’t know if you do or not), but the anger one is not specific to anger towards other people, it can be anger/frustration towards yourself- and that can be thoughts/feelings rather than actions.

As said, it usually means while you may have some traits of cluster B personality disorders, you don't have enough for a full diagnosis. They'll likely leave it on, even if it's not totally current as it can be something to just keep an eye on in the future. Like if you do start to struggle with any of it, they've had it previously noted so they know it's not entirely new for you.

Definitely ask though if you want an explanation.

You could also have a read of the wiki about both personality disorders and the different clusters of traits. Borderline falls under cluster B.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person...ality_clusters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluste...lity_disorders

I know for example for me they listed for a while that I had cluster A and B traits, as neither were enough for a diagnosis of either type. Now my diagnosis has since been changed, but the traits were accurate. It could literally be that it's just your self harm history and the black and white thinking that they are categorizing as bpd/cluster B, and that's why it is still on there more than anything else.

Again tldr; The idea with traits means that you just don't have enough for a full diagnosis.

Thanks everyone. I am beginning to think that it's an old diagnosis which hasn't been removed. When I was first started hearing voices I had all sorts of diagnosis before they settled on schizoeffective disorder before being changed about 10 years ago to schizophrenia. So it could have come from when I was first ill.

Camden I will look through those links when I have more time.