QUESTION:

We have a 16yo son who has temporal lobe seizures. He started having seizures at 14mo. with grand mal seizures. At about age 5-6 yrs. he started having partial complex seizures and rage episodes. The rage episodes were followed with a poethical like stage and total amnesia of the event. It is our belief that these rage episodes are seizure activity. He has had a pet scan that shows an abnormality in the temporal lobe. His grand mals and PCs were very uncontrolled until about the age of 11. Tegretol is being used currently and those are under control. The rage episodes however although are better with Tegretol than without, are not controlled. We have added Neurontin for a second time to see if this will help. It did not in the past. One of our counselors has indicated that she thinks he may have borderline personality disorder. If you think that you would be interested in this case please contact us. Our son's quality of life is going downhill dramatically and we need to do something quickly.

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

It's certainly possible, and the addition of Prozac would likely be of enormous benefit if he does have the BPD. A second medication, such as Depakote may be added as well. Like everyone else he needs all his diagnoses made and comprehensively treated.