Some conditions don’t fit neatly into one diagnosis. Mood swings, intense emotions, unstable relationships, and depression that keeps returning often overlap, and they need careful diagnosis and long-term, psychiatrist-led follow-up rather than a single intervention.
At WIP-DC and WIP-Rockville, your psychiatrist works in close collaboration with your care team, especially your therapist. When it fits a clear target, such as severe depression, suicidal thinking, or trauma symptoms, interventional treatment can be considered as one part of a carefully individualized plan. We serve patients across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
Complex mood and personality disorders include:
Borderline personality disorder affects about 1.4% of U.S. adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These conditions often occur alongside depression, bipolar depression, anxiety, PTSD and complex trauma, and substance use.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
An accurate diagnosis takes time. Your psychiatrist will look at your history, your current symptoms, and what has and hasn’t helped before.
Specialized therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is the foundation of treatment for personality disorders. Your psychiatrist’s role is to clarify the diagnosis, treat co-occurring conditions, and coordinate closely with your therapist and the rest of your team.
We work hand in hand with your current therapist, or help you find one with the right training. Treatment decisions are shared across your team.
No medication is FDA-approved for borderline personality disorder itself. Medication targets specific symptoms and co-occurring depression, anxiety, or mood instability.
For a clear target, such as severe depression, suicidal thinking, or trauma symptoms, your psychiatrist may consider Spravato, IV ketamine, KAP, TMS, or SGB.
Regular visits with the same psychiatrist, adjusting the plan as symptoms change over months and years.
Interventional treatments are never a stand-alone answer for complex mood and personality disorders. They are considered carefully, one patient at a time, under the care of a psychiatrist and in close collaboration with your therapist.
Spravato is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depression with suicidal thoughts, and TMS is FDA-cleared for depression. Ketamine and SGB are used off-label. Your psychiatrist will review the evidence, risks, and alternatives with you.
You can also read reviews from our patients.
WIP-DC: 4325 49th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016
WIP-Rockville: 1801 Rockville Pike, Suite 110, Rockville, MD 20852
Conditions where mood, emotions, relationships, and sense of self are affected in overlapping, long-lasting ways, such as borderline personality disorder, recurrent depression with personality features, or mood instability alongside trauma or substance use. They need careful diagnosis and long-term follow-up rather than a single intervention.
Yes. Many people with borderline personality disorder and related conditions improve substantially over time, especially with specialized therapy and steady psychiatric care.
Sometimes, when used selectively. They can be considered for a specific target, such as severe depression, suicidal thinking, or trauma symptoms, under the care of a psychiatrist and in close collaboration with your therapist. They are not a replacement for therapy, and several uses are off-label.
For complex mood and personality disorders, ongoing therapy is a core part of care. We work closely with your current therapist, or help you find one with the right training, such as in DBT.
No medication is FDA-approved for borderline personality disorder itself. Medication is used to treat specific symptoms or co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, or mood instability.
At WIP-DC in Spring Valley (4325 49th St NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016) and WIP-Rockville (1801 Rockville Pike, Suite 110, Rockville, MD 20852), with telehealth follow-ups for patients in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Schedule a psychiatric evaluation. Call (202) 525-5123 for WIP-DC or (240) 995-6005 for WIP-Rockville.
