QUESTION:

Dear Doctor,

I am married to a woman whom I believe has either BPD or another personality disorder. She is also an alcoholic, and although she knows she is, she seems to have no desire to help herself. I see the depression start to set in for a few weeks at first, sometimes lasting several months. Well, she was hit by a car crossing the street and saw a neurologist whom prescribed Zoloft and Amitryptilline.

When she starts to get depressed she will start to drink as well. Then I am to blame for all that is wrong in her life. I have been stabbed and burned with cigarettes by her when she drinks. I have seen her do some really self-destructive things as well, including suicide attempts and promiscuous behavior and plain hatred towards me. Does the combination of Zoloft and alcohol cause an even more severe depression?

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

It's more likely the alcohol is making the BPD worse and interfering with Zoloft's effectiveness.

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