Diagnosing Sarah Barracuda; Borderline? Bipolar?

I'd like to see the complete medical and psychiatric history of Sarah Palin, including medications taken. Could be interesting.

I'm particularly interested in her psychiatric background. You have to ask, what diagnosis would you give to a student nicknamed, "Sarah Barracuda."

There are at least four or five possiblities. Or, she could be normal, vendettas, aerial hunting, book banning and all-- just another right wingnut. But let's look at some of these and se if they fit. At the end, please vote in the poll I've created to express your opinion of where she fits in.

Borderline personality;
Many psychologists refuse to work with Borderlines. These folks will be sweet and nice to get you to like them and then, they bite your head off and stab you in the back.

Wikipedia offers this profile:

is a psychiatric diagnosis, a diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (published by the American Psychiatric Association) that describes a long-term disturbance of personality function characterized by depth and variability of moods.[2] It is one of four related diagnoses classified as cluster B ("dramatic-erratic") personality disorders typified by disturbances in impulse control and emotional dysregulation, the others being narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders.

Disturbances suffered by those with borderline personality disorder are wide-ranging. The general profile of the disorder typically includes a pervasive instability in mood; extreme "black and white" thinking, or "splitting"; chaotic and unstable interpersonal relationships, self-image, identity, and behavior; as well as a disturbance in the individual's sense of self. In extreme cases, this disturbance in the sense of self can lead to periods of dissociation.[3] These disturbances have a pervasive negative impact on many or all of the psychosocial facets of life. This includes the inability to maintain relationships in work, home, and social settings.

Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, and development of BPD.[6][52][dead link][53][54][55] Many individuals with BPD report having had a history of abuse, neglect, or separation as young children.[56] Patients with BPD have been found to be significantly more likely to report having been verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by caregivers of either gender.

Bipolar disorder is not a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are normally separated by periods of normal mood, but in some patients, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.

In the context of mental illness, a mixed state (also known as dysphoric mania, agitated depression, or a mixed episode) is a condition during which symptoms of mania and depression occur simultaneously (e.g., agitation, anxiety, fatigue, guilt, impulsiveness, irritability, morbid or suicidal ideation, panic, paranoia, pressured speech and rage). Typical examples include tearfulness during a manic episode or racing thoughts during a depressive episode. One may also feel incredibly frustrated in this state, since one may feel like a failure and at the same time have a flight of ideas. Mixed states can be the most dangerous period of mood disorders, during which substance abuse, panic disorder, suicide attempts, and other complications increase greatly.

Lack of a conscience in conjunction with a weak ability to defer gratification in criminal, sexual and aggressive desires, leads to the psychopath to constantly engage in antisocial behaviors. Psychopathy (in its extreme form) does not necessarily lead itself to criminal and violent behavior (although such tendencies are likely). Instead, psychopaths high in social cognition may be able to redirect their antisocial desires in a more positive manner.

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:[1]

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is "special" and unique
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement
6. is interpersonally exploitative
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

Now, I'm not a psychologist. I do have a masters in counseling psych and spent eight years working in psychiatric settings and later, 15 years running conferences for psychologists and psychiatrists. But I'm not licensed and don't have the formal training.

BUT..... something's going on with Sarah. I lean toward seeing her as borderline personality. She gets close to people then screws them. That's what she did with the mayor who brought her in to the Wasilla City council. That's what she did to the governor who gave her a plum job working for the state, before she ran against him.

And her mean, shrill speeches show the kind of meanness that borderlines lapse into so easily.

But the other diagnoses I've listed are possibilities.

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