BPD and Gender Identity Problems

Written by Dr. Leland Heller

QUESTION:

The background: diagnosis of chronic hypomanic depression, under treatment for 10yrs, feel stable. new diagnosis of borderline personality.

I have strong feelings of gender dysphoria, to the point of pursuing a sex change. Can these be attributed to the borderline personality, and/or exist independent of it?

If from borderline personality, can treatment of this condition alleviate life long self identity of opposite genetic sex?

Thank you for any assistance, have been unable to get gender therapist or depression psychiatrist to shed any light on this question.

One final question, can disassociate behavior mimic borderline personality?

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

Individuals with gender identity problems often also have the BPD.

A study in the 1980's showed that Tegretol stopped the desire for a sex change in 50% of those studied.

Dissociate symptoms can come from different things, but they are commonly a sign of the BPD.

I'd strongly recommend you get treated for the BPD before undergoing a sex change. Prozac combined one week later with Tegretol will likely give you an answer in this regard. Like everyone else you need all your diagnoses made and effectively treated.

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