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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Panz on July 19, 2005, at 18:58:28
I already have Borderline pd, severe panic disorder, depressive disorder and a few other goodies,. A few weeks ago my clinician had me do a test, which I *think* was called MCMI-III or something close to that. It had a couple hundred questions, some of them really weird, and you answered yes or no on another piece of paper. Last Friday, I got to take a quick look at it and it listed Schizo-affective disorder first thing, when I asked my clinician about this, he got really testy and stated that as far as he was concerned I was Borderline and he didn't know where they got all the schizo stuff from. I'm pretty upset about this and was wondering if anyone could tell me how accurate these tests are. They seem to devise treatment plans around them, so they have to be pretty accurate, don't they?
Posted by Dinah on July 19, 2005, at 19:42:44
In reply to confused and upset, posted by Panz on July 19, 2005, at 18:58:28
No multiple choice test can diagnose a person. That's why they have psychologists give them. He probably sent it off to one of those computerized answering services, but the final call on diagnosis is his, assuming he gave you the test and is qualified to do so.
That being said, the difference isn't all that huge, is it? I'm not sure of my ground here, but schizo-affective means a mood disorder with some loss of reality. And borderline personality disorder certainly involves mood disturbances, and by definition can include occasionally poor reality testing under stress.
So as I understand it, it would be easy enough for a multiple choice test to come back with some suggestions, but a clinician would be needed to apply to them to each patient.
If you have a qualified clinician, I'd listen to him.
Does the possibility of schizoaffective distress you? Those names can sound a lot scarier than the actual reality. One clinician diagnosed me with schizotypal personality disorder, and my therapist sort of agrees. Other clinicians roundly criticize that diagnosis for me. It's scary to have schizo-anything mentioned in connection with yourself, but I think it's not necessarily as bad as it sounds.
Posted by Shortelise on July 19, 2005, at 21:52:27
In reply to confused and upset, posted by Panz on July 19, 2005, at 18:58:28
Oh, how I hate labels.
I wish I could just get a big label that said "PEACHES" or "BAKED BEANS", and wear that to therapy.
The labels feel to me like a condamnation, and the names are so very ugly!!! And frightening. Your psychologist might have considered a different approach. So so many of us are affected by these big ugly names.
You're just you, ok? Sticks and stones.
My T, who is a psychiatrist, says there are too many people in the world for those diagnostic things to be of any use other than as a guidleine. We're all so very different.
Everything Dinah said rings true, and hopefully, othres will respond with good info.
If I were in your shoes, I'd take the info to a T and talk about it.
((panz))
Posted by Shortelise on July 19, 2005, at 21:54:08
In reply to confused and upset, posted by Panz on July 19, 2005, at 18:58:28
I am really sorry that psychologist isn't a little more aware of how very upsetting these diagnoses can be. Really sorry, Panz.
S
Posted by Panz on July 19, 2005, at 23:55:12
In reply to PS » Panz, posted by Shortelise on July 19, 2005, at 21:54:08
> I am really sorry that psychologist isn't a little more aware of how very upsetting these diagnoses can be. Really sorry, Panz.
>
> SIt's cool. I just hate not knowing, you know? I'm such an info addict *sigh* And yeah, when they start throwing the "Schizo" lables around it's kind of worrisome, but no matter what, I'm still the same busted little nutjob that I was before the lable slinging, and I'll deal. Thanks for the support :)
Posted by B2chica on July 20, 2005, at 9:39:14
In reply to Re: confused and upset » Panz, posted by Dinah on July 19, 2005, at 19:42:44
i too got schizotypal personality, but with all the 'personality disorders' they aren't really disorders unless it negatively affects your life, we all have a little bit of them all.
there is the mmpi-II that one is like 500 questions, the mcmi is about 100 (i think).don't worry about the label just ask so what does that mean for treatment. ask them what it is and why they think you have it. it sounds like your psychologist doesn't believe that fits you. Remember (as i think anothe babbler said) it's just a standardized test, which means it's a one size fits all (none).
take it with a grain of salt.and schizoaffective means that there are some attributes of schizophrenia and affective(mood)disorders combined. it's really not as scary as it sounds cuz they could both just barely be present and not a disfunction for you.
remember, only you know you best.
take care
b2c.
Posted by CAROLINA on July 20, 2005, at 12:49:58
In reply to Re: confused and upset, posted by B2chica on July 20, 2005, at 9:39:14
i dont know how the laws are where u live but in sc i know that the patient has LEGAL right to any med. record. u can check it out and see what the laws are there but i have demanded my 10 pound file b4 and by law was able to look over it. i couldnt leave w/ it but i saw everything written about me, the diag.,etc. -they were wayyy off w/ the diag. but i felt better knowing what had been written about me for 8 years.take care-Carolina
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