Q. Is it possible to not be diagnosed with bpd until later in life but have been in treatment for quite awhile - can the symptoms of bpd mask other disorders, like obsessive compulsive disorder, major depression and panic disorder?

A. Yes, BPD can be diagnosed later in life, but does not emerge later in life. If you have it now, but did not before, you probably were not given the diagnosis earlier on in your life. BPD is biological in origin, just like bipolar disease, but is treated differently if you are to get optimal results.

BPD is no different from any other disease, and can present differently as you age. We all change how we act somewhat as we age. Our core personality or manner of interacting, however, does not change very much. By definition, BPD tends to be a lifelong behavior/collection of traits, and not an acute phenomena like bipolar disease. The BPD can wax and wane and intensity, but it is always present as a mode of dealing with or interacting with one's life.