Abstract
Patients with longstanding recurrent behavioural disturbance, unstable interpersonal relationships and periodic affective symptoms are often diagnosed as having a cluster B personality disturbance using DSM-III-R criteria. Two women are described who were diagnosed as having a personality disorder on several admissions to hospital, but in whom closer inquiry revealed evidence of bipolar affective disorder. Since treatment with lithium and adjunctive mood-stabilizing drugs neither patient has required further admissions to hospital within the past five years.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Amitriptyline / administration & dosage
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / administration & dosage
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Bipolar Disorder / classification
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Bipolar Disorder / diagnosis*
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Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy
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Bipolar Disorder / psychology
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Carbamazepine / administration & dosage
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Depressive Disorder / classification
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Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
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Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
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Depressive Disorder / psychology
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Diagnostic Errors
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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Electroconvulsive Therapy
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Lithium Carbonate / administration & dosage
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Personality Disorders / classification
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Personality Disorders / diagnosis*
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Personality Disorders / drug therapy
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Personality Disorders / psychology
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Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Substances
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
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Amitriptyline
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Lithium Carbonate
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Carbamazepine