I'm not entirely sure what you mean by a $1,000 plus type formal evaluation. I guess the only thing comparable (but probably not the same) was a three 50-minute session (150 minutes) consultation with a doctor that was both a psychiatrist and neurologist. I had already had my bipolar disorder type 1 diagnosis for maybe four years, reconfirmed by numerous psychiatrists, but at the time I saw this consulting doctor, I had been having various strange symptoms in conjunction with my bipolar disorder. My then (and still current) psychiatrist had pushed me to go to a regular neurologist and I had a PET scan, MRI, and multiple EEGs done. The neurologist would say my "strange" symptoms were "psychiatrist-related" and my psychiatrist thought some were "neurological issues". He didn't think I was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. I had it, but rather had a potential second issue, as well. In the end, my bipolar disorder type 1 diagnosis was confirmed again, and again, and again. As for seizures, one neurologist said I had them, another said they "weren't definitive", and the consulting psych/neuro simply said I "definitely have bipolar disorder type 1 and that 'the strange symptoms' are just probably a different presentation" and that "bipolar episodes, themselves, are likely just a different form of seizure".

The first time I was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the psychiatrist himself had witnessed, in person, both a depressive episode and a manic episode. He was the doctor that first hospitalized me. My current long-term private psychiatrist has seen me experience numerous bipolar episodes of various sorts and severity, over the last 12 years. He has also heard my looooooooong complete story, probably a couple or more times over. Coincidentally, he was my first inpatient psychiatrist.

I remember several years back after 10 hospitalizations and 12 IOPs/PHPs, I went to a potential new therapist (a psychologist). That first session with her, I told her I had bipolar disorder type 1. In response, she said "Well, it doesn't matter what anyone else has diagnosed you with. I'm going to make my own diagnosis." I remember rolling my eyes thinking that was ridiculous at that stage of the game. I had probably been diagnosed bipolar type 1 by who knows how many psychiatrists, and she was going to TELL ME what my diagnosis was. Not surprisingly, at the end of that first session, she said "Yes, you do have bipolar disorder type 1." In response, I cancelled my next session with her. She was obnoxious, anyway.

Someday I will have to change psychiatrists and therapists. I totally dread having to tell my long ***** story again and again. Assuming that my psychiatrist is still around when my hubby and I move, I'm hoping he will call my next psychiatrist, to spare me to a degree. If nothing else, I will ask my psychiatrist to write a letter that I can bring to a new psychiatrist.