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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Safe Is Someone With Personality Disorder As A Driver?

My neice has had a history of mental problems and has been diagonosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. She is on her own and I know is not careful about taking medications as perscribed. I am concerned about her, but her mother thinks it is fine for her to drive while on these medications. Trazodone, Paxil, Prazosin, Lithium, Prolixin, Provigil. My neice often goes off her medications so she can feel free to drink. My concern is for her safety and the safety of others when she is driving!
posted on Fri, 4 Jul 2014
Twitter Tue, 5 Aug 2014 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 5 Aug 2014 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello; thanks for the query. Short answer is its absolutely safe to let her drive provided she is not engaging into drunk driving or driving under influence of some illegal drug!! What we need to understand is personality disorders(PD) can not be equated with serious mental illness like schizophrenia where a person while acutely ill may lose a certain judgement for a while but not always! On contrary, PD should be considered as an extreme form of behavior which defies common societal norms, brings significant distress to patient himself/herself & his/her near ones & hence needs modification. PD can not CURED by all the plethora of medications you have mentioned in question (I wonder why she is receiving so many of them for!!); rather there is a form of talk therapy known as dialectic behavior therapy (DBT) devised by Psychologist Marsha Linehan & colleagues. DBT is usually given by Psychologists & Psychiatrists. Hence find out a Psychologist qualified to give DBT & encourage your niece to enroll there. If she is willing for a change in her current state of life; I am sure DBT can work wonders for her! Hope this helps. Good Luck
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How Safe Is Someone With Personality Disorder As A Driver?

Hello; thanks for the query. Short answer is its absolutely safe to let her drive provided she is not engaging into drunk driving or driving under influence of some illegal drug!! What we need to understand is personality disorders(PD) can not be equated with serious mental illness like schizophrenia where a person while acutely ill may lose a certain judgement for a while but not always! On contrary, PD should be considered as an extreme form of behavior which defies common societal norms, brings significant distress to patient himself/herself & his/her near ones & hence needs modification. PD can not CURED by all the plethora of medications you have mentioned in question (I wonder why she is receiving so many of them for!!); rather there is a form of talk therapy known as dialectic behavior therapy (DBT) devised by Psychologist Marsha Linehan & colleagues. DBT is usually given by Psychologists & Psychiatrists. Hence find out a Psychologist qualified to give DBT & encourage your niece to enroll there. If she is willing for a change in her current state of life; I am sure DBT can work wonders for her! Hope this helps. Good Luck