Q. I have a 16 year old son with Adjustment Disorder with disturbance of conduct, learning disabilities in writing, reading, and math, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Graphomotor disorders, Developmental Language Disorder, Rule out major Depressive Episode (not sure what that means) and Night terrors. I just found out he is cutting himself -- it started about month ago and I just found out 3 days ago. He does have a Doctor and he has an appt. today.... What I would like to know with this diagnosis - does self mutilation fit in.. or is something else going on?

A. It sure sounds like he has behavioral symptoms consistent with a biological problem. Technically, you cannot have borderline personality disorder (BPD) until your 18th birthday. Nonetheless, if he has three or more of mood swings lasting minutes to hours, black-white thinking, rejection sensitivity, substance abuse, impulsively, or rage episodes, he probably has BPD.

All of the "diagnoses" you mentioned in your letter are consistent with having BPD. He may not have BPD, but none of the behaviors you listed as already being diagnosed rule it out, either.