Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Borderline Personality Disorder

Wed, 02/17/2010 - 09:12
I was diagnosed with BPD (borderline personality disorder) recently and have been having TLE symptoms as well. Is there a link between the 2? I read that it is a possibility that the activity from a TLE seizure has something to do with the mood swings and hallucinations, ...that a BPD person experiences. I had taken home an eeg for 24 hours and it showed nothing, so, I am totally confused. I know eeg's are usually normal with epilepsy, but, with 5 head injuries and a lesion  on my frontal lobe, what are my chances of having TLE as well??

Comments

Re: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Borderline Personality Disorder

Submitted by pgd on Wed, 2010-02-17 - 10:08

About head injuries - brain injuries - sports concussions - http://www.biausa.org/ - http://www.headinjury.com/ - http://www.givebackorlando.com/

 

About head injuries - brain injuries - sports concussions - http://www.biausa.org/ - http://www.headinjury.com/ - http://www.givebackorlando.com/

 

Re: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Borderline Personality Disorder

Submitted by terrics on Fri, 2010-08-27 - 12:29
I have been diagnosed with BPD and bipolar.  On my second EEG I had temporal lobe seizure activity.  I think all three are related.

Re: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Borderline Personality Disorder

Submitted by kay69 on Fri, 2010-08-27 - 20:06

Seizure activity and the side effects of AEDs can mimic the "symptoms" that psychiatrists like to use for diagnosing a psych disorder. I'm absolutely amazed reading American Ep sites just how many of you have been dxd with bipolar/personality disorders and are subsequently pumped full of psychotropic drugs, but the American shrinks seem to love over- diagnosing.

If the seizures were there before the psych dx and if mental symptoms develop in relation to starting an AED, then there's a good chance they're related, and it may involve having to change AEDs, thogh it's not that esay given that EVERY aed drug has psychiatric side effects.

I'm speaking as someone who was diagnosed as "Borderline" over 20 years ago which happened to coincide with being put on phenobarb for my ep. It took nearly 20 years to get "undiagnosed" and finally vindicated by a psychiatrist who actually had training in neurology. Once you get given a psych label, it doesn't matter if it turned out to be a mistake, you can never get rid of it. Now that I'm no longer "borderline" I've noticed a big change in how I'm treated my the medical scene ie, I used to be treated really badly on the basis of my psych dx.

So I would ask your doc on what basis  your diagnosis was made, and question that your symptoms may be a direct result of ep/ side effects.

Seizure activity and the side effects of AEDs can mimic the "symptoms" that psychiatrists like to use for diagnosing a psych disorder. I'm absolutely amazed reading American Ep sites just how many of you have been dxd with bipolar/personality disorders and are subsequently pumped full of psychotropic drugs, but the American shrinks seem to love over- diagnosing.

If the seizures were there before the psych dx and if mental symptoms develop in relation to starting an AED, then there's a good chance they're related, and it may involve having to change AEDs, thogh it's not that esay given that EVERY aed drug has psychiatric side effects.

I'm speaking as someone who was diagnosed as "Borderline" over 20 years ago which happened to coincide with being put on phenobarb for my ep. It took nearly 20 years to get "undiagnosed" and finally vindicated by a psychiatrist who actually had training in neurology. Once you get given a psych label, it doesn't matter if it turned out to be a mistake, you can never get rid of it. Now that I'm no longer "borderline" I've noticed a big change in how I'm treated my the medical scene ie, I used to be treated really badly on the basis of my psych dx.

So I would ask your doc on what basis  your diagnosis was made, and question that your symptoms may be a direct result of ep/ side effects.

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.