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Well, you just so happened to have asked the Melbourne hospital expert (I don't think this is a good thing...)

Melbourne Clinic has an eating disorder program, I'm not sure what it's like though as I don't know anyone that's been through it.

They also have an Anxiety and Depression program - its a 4 week inpatient program. I know someone that's done it and they said it was good.

I've done their Anxiety Management group and it was very good.

I'm doing the DBT (which will help with BPD and self harm, as well as anxiety/depression to a lesser extent). So far I find it a very good program. DBT is only run at three hospitals in Victoria - Melbourne Clinic, Albert Rd Clinic and Delmont Private Hospital. From what I've been told, Victoria Clinic is also thinking of starting one. These are all private hospitals. If you don't have private health insurance then there's a BPD program run by the public system called spectrum, but you have to be a current patient of the public mental health system, and you have to be referred by a local Area Mental Health Service, they don't take private referrals.

If you do have BPD, then I would say do the DBT. As I'm sure you've found out in your research, it is extremely rare to have 'just' BPD (as if it wasn't enough!!). It usually coexists with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar, etc. Treating the 'sub' illnesses probably won't be effective until you get your BPD under control - this is what I've found out the hard and long way!

Delmont is in Glen Iris (eastern suburbs), Albert Rd is on, well, Albert Rd in Albert Park and Melbourne Clinic is in Richmond. You have to get referred to the program by a psychiatrist accredited to that hospital.

Hope that helps!

Written by babz, 1. Dec 2007 09:28 PM

I am not sure about treatment programs for eating disorders. I would really like to help you for this, but it depends on where you live and whether you want public or private treatment. If you have a local psychiatric triage service maybe they can help. Or contact your local cat team about depression and self harm. your own gp would know of programs in your area. I had to move to melbourne to access the treatments that i eventually got as the services in regional areas are pathetic. So being in a country area may make things harder. If needed or useful to you I can give more specifics if you are from melbourne.

Good luck.

Written by mystery, 1. Dec 2007 09:28 PM

PS
most melbourne large public hospital have a DBT program. I am currently in one myself.

Written by mystery, 1. Dec 2007 09:30 PM