Borderline Personality Disorder: A Symptom of Something Else? 

 by Patty Fleener M.S.W.

The bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, or an "affective disorder." It was discovered by Hudson and Pope at McLean Hospital in the U.S., that people with affective disorders had a high degree of other certain disorders as well. There seemed to be some connection. 

Affective disorders did not appear to come alone but came with other disorders, thus the term "affective spectrum." The borderline personality disorder does not come alone either.

You will see on the affective disorder in the listing that personality disorders is listed. So rather than saying we have the borderline personality disorder and perhaps the panic disorder, etc., like he is saying; these are all symptoms of something else.

The Current Listing

The following have been identified (so far) as part of the medical spectrum which may accompany affective disorders. 

• attention deficit disorder (ADD & ADHD) 
• body dysmorphic disorder 
• cataplexy 
• eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, binging) 
• fibromyalgia (includes chronic fatigue) 
• impulse-control disorders
• irritable bowel syndrome 
• kleptomania 
• migraine/severe headache 
• narcolepsy 
• obsessive-compulsive disorder 
• panic disorder 
• Tourette's disorder 

The following may also be a part of the spectrum accompanying affective disorders. 

• anxiety disorders 
• autism 
• chronic pain 
• intermittent explosive disorder 
• pathological gambling 
• pyromania 
• personality disorders 
• post traumatic stress disorder 
• substance abuse and addiction (includes alcoholism) 
• trichotillomania