is 'rule out bpd' the same as a diagnosis of bpd?

Im hoping I can get some knowledgeable answers here, since Im confused on this issue. What happened is that I was diagnosed by three different doctors as schizoaffective, I have been inpatient several times for this. During my time there, I talked to the social worker about some family history...my brother told me he wanted to help me, so I briefly discussed with him what I told the social worker...he got mad and later called a doctor there. He told the doctor he thinks I have bpd...later on that one doctor wrote 'rule out bpd' in my chart, but the top of the chart says diagnosis=schizoaffective.

I believe my brother cant face the painful reality of our past, its easier for him to lash out at me and say I have a personality issue. It seems like whatever he told the doctor caused the doctor to write 'rule out bpd' in my chart.
now my brother says 'see, I told you, you have bpd, the doctor even wrote it in the chart,' he claims that 'rule out' is basicaly the same as a firm diagnosis.

WHen a doctor writes 'rule out bpd' does that mean you have it? I should note that the other two doctors there that did not get my brothers phone call, only diagnosed me as schizoaffective

can someone explain to me if 'rule out' is the same as a diagnosis, or what does it mean? thanks for any insight into this.....Its too bad that my brother needs so badly to not face reality...its easier for my brother to declare me sick and delusional, rather than face the life we had growing up.

changed my response.

hello, glad to get a reply....to clarify a bit more, my brother claims that the doctor would not have written 'rule out' if he didnt think theres a good chance I have it. He said it means the doctor suspects it but doesnt have enough information to write it as a diagnosis....my brother uses that to say that its the same, close enough, it means I have it

does it seem to you that the doctor wrote 'rule out bpd' because my brother called to tell him he thinks I have it? Anyways, now that the doctor wrote that, my brother is convinced that I have it, and any discussion on my part about our dads drinking is met with 'oh, your just saying that because your a borderline personality and you need to 'blame others'...

Delamo I would take it to mean that the doctor is going to check/test to see if it is possible/not possible that you have it. Rule it out would mean to make sure that you DON'T have it.
Hang in there.

Hi Delamo - Im going to disagree with what I said earlier. I believe Reflection has it correct. Your brother is still wrong. You have NOT been diagnosed as of yet with bpd. It just means the doctor wants to observe you more or test you more before he makes a decisions. Think of rule out as not enough information to make a decision.

I agree with reflection. I believe the reason why that note was added is because of your past. It is typical of a person with BPD. There are 9 criteria for BPD. A person must have 5 to be diagnosed with BPD. I believe they are going to make notes of any of those criteria they see in you.

Some Dr's will diagnose on history. Others will wait and see to personally observe the symptoms. It sounds like your Dr. is a wait-and-see type. (There's nothing wrogn with that)

I had been to a handful of doctors and a couple therapists for the schizo. and none of them ever mentioned bpd...the first I heard of it was after my brother got mad at me for telling the social worker about our dads drinking...
i had been under this doctors care for 5 weeks at the hospital and he had not said a word about bpd...then one day my brother calls him up, and thats when he wrote 'rule out bpd' in my chart...the doctor who saw me after only writes schizoaffective on my chart

is it possible he wrote it to let my brother know that he would in a sense look into it, just to seem responsible?

i just feel sad at how my dad was the one who was a drunk, and my brother would rather put it on me, than admit what he did to us

It's hard to say delamo. It's possible since your brother mentioned it that the doctor just wants to observe.

If you see the doctor again you have the right to ask him.. Just ask if he thinks you have bpd or have signs of it..

edit

just a quick update...I posted this above, but wanted to follow up here in case some who replied were still following this thread.
after i posted this, I read up on bpd and saw there is a strong cause between child abuse and neglect and bpd.
I saw it on many websites.
i called my brother to mention what I had learned...he got angry at the idea that if I do have bpd, it very likely stems from our dad's drinking and parental abuse
apparently he was eager for me to have a personality disorder, but not if it means acknowledging the cause of it...
If I do have bpd, and were to be treated for it, the issue of abuse would have to be addressed, otherwise there would be little point. How could I heal and recover while doing therapy that denies the whole cause of it to begin with
sadly, I dont think I will have my brothers support for that. He had offered to pay for me to get counseling just for the bpd, but now he doesnt want to if it means I am going to tell the therapist about the abuse...
for what its worth, i think chances are I dont have it, because of what I posted above, that was the only doctor out of half a dozen who ever mentioned it, and he only mentioned it after my brother told him so...
but anyways, i am open to the possibility that I do have it, but no point in going for treatment if I cant really discuss what caused it...that would be like a diabetic going to a doctor and not discussing what his diet is like