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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
This is something that I have been thinking about for several days, and I hope that I am able to express my thoughts in such that I adequately convey my thoughts..
I work with as a parole/probation officer, as such, my views could be biased as I deal with a unique sector of the population. The other day, while in court, I noticed how many offender's identified themselves as being 'bipolar.' Lots of them stated that they have actually been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder by a pdoc. Lots are also on meds for BPD.
This led me to wonder how many people actually fit the DSM guidelines for BPD, and how many people are diagnosed incorrectly. It just seems that with all of the commericals that advertise psych meds and mental health disorders, are doctors just labeling people as being mentally ill and passing out drugs just to passify the pharmaceudical companies?
I don't know, it just seems as if more and more people are being labeled with mental disorders, and it seems as if more and more people are being prescribed medications for these disorders.
Am I right, or just biased based on the population I deal with?
Posted by sleepygirl on April 18, 2007, at 20:58:16
In reply to Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
>
> This is something that I have been thinking about for several days, and I hope that I am able to express my thoughts in such that I adequately convey my thoughts..
> I work with as a parole/probation officer, as such, my views could be biased as I deal with a unique sector of the population. The other day, while in court, I noticed how many offender's identified themselves as being 'bipolar.' Lots of them stated that they have actually been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder by a pdoc. Lots are also on meds for BPD.
> This led me to wonder how many people actually fit the DSM guidelines for BPD, and how many people are diagnosed incorrectly. It just seems that with all of the commericals that advertise psych meds and mental health disorders, are doctors just labeling people as being mentally ill and passing out drugs just to passify the pharmaceudical companies?
> I don't know, it just seems as if more and more people are being labeled with mental disorders, and it seems as if more and more people are being prescribed medications for these disorders.
> Am I right, or just biased based on the population I deal with?
>well...it is a good question IMHO, there are lots of "extremes" in mood and behavior after all...does one diagnosis cover it all?
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2007, at 21:48:30
In reply to Re: Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders » nolegirl23, posted by sleepygirl on April 18, 2007, at 20:58:16
Lately it seems that everyone is bipolar or a deviation of it. And I believe the diagnosis is about five types now. Love Phillipa
Posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 23:04:32
In reply to Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
> I don't know, it just seems as if more and more people are being labeled with mental disorders, and it seems as if more and more people are being prescribed medications for these disorders.
>>Am I right, or just biased based on the population I deal with?
Maybe both.
Posted by stargazer on April 18, 2007, at 23:08:55
In reply to Re: Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2007, at 21:48:30
Bipolar diagnsois does seem to come up as a diagnosis used to justify out of control behavior resulting in illegal behavior.
Is it being used as a catch-all diagnosis or a defense tactic by lawyers who know the diagnosis can be easily faked by giving the right answers to certain questions?
We all know what those questions are and so many people can meet the guidelines of being bipolar but do they truly have BPD or out of control behavior from drug or alcohol intoxication or another diagnosis?
Many BP symptoms are vague and could be diagnosed in many people during various situations and I can see the diagnosis being used to excuse "bad" behavior.
This does not mean I don't see the diagnosis as a valid one for many who suffer and try and get help for this condition, but like depression, I'm sure the diagnosis can be applied for those looking for an excuse for unacceptable behavior.
Posted by Racer on April 18, 2007, at 23:09:44
In reply to Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
Just to make it easier, "BPD" usually refers to Borderline Personality Disorder, with BP denoting bipolar... Just so you don't get answers to a question you didn't ask...
The answer I'd give is "Probably a little of both..." Yes, bipolar is being diagnosed a lot these days, and maybe overdiagnosed. But the population you're dealing with may have higher rates of BP, just because sometimes BP includes some issues with impulsive behavior, which might lead to more contact with the legal system.
Just my guess...
Posted by Cynthia_Greene on April 19, 2007, at 9:28:22
In reply to Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
Bipolar seems to be the current trendy diagnosis. There's a few questionnairres you can take that tells you if you're bipolar or not. They have basic, general questions that any normal, sane person could say yes to, like "Is there a time where you get less sleep than normal?" or "Have you ever been tempted to go on a shopping spree?"
Someone recently told me that the people who make Depakote came up with one of those quizzes, which I asssume is an effort to get more diagnoses and sell more meds. Pathetic, no?
I know someone who's having serious mental health problems. He saw a doctor who gave him a quick quiz, diagnosed him as bipolar, and sent him on his way with Valium and Seroquel. I've talked to everyone around him and we've all agreed that the diagnosis was b*llshit. I honestly think he has a personality disorder and needs serious counseling, but now maybe we'll never know and he wont get the real help he needs.
Posted by one woman cine on April 19, 2007, at 10:33:27
In reply to Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
Judging by the latest mass murder in VA, I'd say this country is woefully behind diagnosing mental illness and getting people the help they need. Misdiagnosis is something else. Money needs to be spent on mental health resources.
Corporate pharm shenanigans are not psychiatry -
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 19, 2007, at 12:24:49
In reply to Overdiagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders, posted by nolegirl23 on April 18, 2007, at 20:13:13
Posted by linkadge on April 19, 2007, at 13:05:06
In reply to If the events in VA are any indication - » nolegirl23, posted by one woman cine on April 19, 2007, at 10:33:27
I agree with the above in that I don't necessarily think that too many people are being diagnosied with mental illnesses as much as the wrong people are being diagnosed.
Yes there are people who are diagnosed with depression that don't have it, but there are many people who havn't been diagnosed that do have it.
There is a lot more "talk" about such things, but
I think that can be good and be bad.If the drugs were *safer* I don't think it would be a problem.
I guess the original assumption was that misdagnosis with the safe SSRI's was not too big a deal.
Linkadge
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 19, 2007, at 13:44:20
In reply to Re: I agree with above. » one woman cine, posted by linkadge on April 19, 2007, at 13:05:06
Yes I agree with that too, link.
hmmm. A complex picture. Nothing is ever easy is it?
Posted by one woman cine on April 19, 2007, at 13:59:52
In reply to Re: I agree with above., posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 19, 2007, at 13:44:20
I'm confused as to what you're agreeing to meri - are you agreeing that people are being over diagnosed or misdiagnosed or what?
I'm not sure what you're "totally agreeing" to.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 19, 2007, at 14:28:23
In reply to Re: I agree with above., posted by one woman cine on April 19, 2007, at 13:59:52
> I'm confused as to what you're agreeing to meri - are you agreeing that people are being over diagnosed or misdiagnosed or what?
Both.
I was agreeing to both nolegirl and link's posts, I sorry if it wasn't clear. Please feel free to ask if it wasn't!
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Jay on April 19, 2007, at 18:22:18
In reply to If the events in VA are any indication - » nolegirl23, posted by one woman cine on April 19, 2007, at 10:33:27
> Judging by the latest mass murder in VA, I'd say this country is woefully behind diagnosing mental illness and getting people the help they need. Misdiagnosis is something else. Money needs to be spent on mental health resources.
>
>
> Corporate pharm shenanigans are not psychiatry -
>Very true. As much as pharmaceuticals try to keep as many pills flowing as possible, the bottom line is many of these modern treatments work. Certainly not "always", but especially in acute cases, symptoms and mental pain can be somewhat lifted to help someone out of the 'fog' of it all. We just need some more long-term care, which I think is the second problem, and people would do better, I believe.
Jay
Posted by naughtypuppy on April 20, 2007, at 9:01:55
In reply to Re: If the events in VA are any indication - » one woman cine, posted by Jay on April 19, 2007, at 18:22:18
I'm just afraid of the possible backlash from the Virginia Tech masacre. Do all people with depression get labeled with the same brush after this? All potential killers?
Posted by one woman cine on April 20, 2007, at 11:32:53
In reply to Re: If the events in VA are any indication -, posted by naughtypuppy on April 20, 2007, at 9:01:55
No, I think not. Many people are afraid of being labelled, Koreans, college students etc. - this student had a history - and was more than likely schizophrenic. Unfortunately, some schizophrenics who are not treated have a greater chance of hurting or killing someone. If untreated.
The pdoc who was killed by his patient, while meaning help and there are others - mental illness is an terrible stigma, but the only way to overcome is by education and funding those it affects.
Posted by leo33 on April 22, 2007, at 10:01:32
In reply to Re: If the events in VA are any indication -, posted by one woman cine on April 20, 2007, at 11:32:53
From what I've heard on the news it seems that they are going after mental illness as the main cause for the massacre and calling for more institutions and tighter supervision on those who are mentally ill. I have the feeling that stigma will rise further than it already is. They are also tossing around more forced medication issues as well and rounding up the homeless and hospitalizing them again. It seems so far that more discrimination will occur for those already suffering in all walks of life, jobs, school, housing, medical records privacy, and so on.
I do not see how this will be good for those who are ill.
I have a feeling that this will keep people from getting help because of these stigma's.IMHO
Posted by FredPotter on April 22, 2007, at 18:13:26
In reply to Re: I agree with above., posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 19, 2007, at 14:28:23
But SSRIs are not safe if they don't work. The only kind of AD that's safe is one that works, otherwise there's the risk of suicide, driving while depressed, slow reactions, inability to take in important information etc
This is the end of the thread.
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