[WantingtoHeal]

Does anyone know of any particular diagnostic assessments that are used to see if one is dissociating? I've seen a couple online, but I doubt they've been thoroughly studied. Besides just a therapist's observation of seeing a person change personalities, what sort of tests show it?

I guess I'm sort of playing therapist instead of letting my therapist know what's going on. I thought maybe I could lead them into doing these assessments so that I could get some clue of what's going on. I don't want to mention anything about dissociation to them for fear that they will look for it in me or that they might deny the existence of it as a disorder. I'd like to have the information and be prepared first.

I took the MMPI many years ago; not sure if that would say anything about dissociation. I have a degree in psychology and a masters in counseling from years ago, but I can't remember any of my classes or what I learned. Major bummer. I never practiced, thank goodness. Knew I wasn't together enough.

Thanks again for being here.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by WantingtoHeal

Does anyone know of any particular diagnostic assessments that are used to see if one is dissociating? I've seen a couple online, but I doubt they've been thoroughly studied. Besides just a therapist's observation of seeing a person change personalities, what sort of tests show it?

I guess I'm sort of playing therapist instead of letting my therapist know what's going on. I thought maybe I could lead them into doing these assessments so that I could get some clue of what's going on. I don't want to mention anything about dissociation to them for fear that they will look for it in me or that they might deny the existence of it as a disorder. I'd like to have the information and be prepared first.

I took the MMPI many years ago; not sure if that would say anything about dissociation. I have a degree in psychology and a masters in counseling from years ago, but I can't remember any of my classes or what I learned. Major bummer. I never practiced, thank goodness. Knew I wasn't together enough.

Thanks again for being here.

diagnostic tests (here in NY known by the name psychiatric evaluations) change every year or so.

plus different states, cities, countries have their own list of psychiatric tests they use for diagnosing mental disorders.

here where I live and work, when treatment providers test for dissociative disorders it includes things like QOLI, DES, MMPI III, DDIS, Cat Scan, EEG, EKG, MMPI 2TM, TAT, MCM III, PET, SPECT, MRI, RISB, IQ(intelligent quotient tests) and many other physical and mental health tests. the whole testing process here usually takes a month, and then it takes about three - 6 months for the results. plus some people have to do additional physical or mental evaluations depending upon the tests results. plus in some cases additional documentation such past academic, mental and medical test results that can show history of problems...

to find out what tests are done in your area contact a psychiatrist in your location.

also keep in mind that new diagnostic criteria will be implemented when the DSM 5 is distributed to treatment providers. with new diagnostic criteria there will be new diagnostic evaluations procedures and tests.

[WantingtoHeal]

Whew, that is a lot. Thanks for your response, Amandalouise. I have not kept up with the latest info. It sounds expensive and exhausting. I can't believe there's a DSM 5 coming out. I really am outdated.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by WantingtoHeal

Whew, that is a lot. Thanks for your response, Amandalouise. I have not kept up with the latest info. It sounds expensive and exhausting. I can't believe there's a DSM 5 coming out. I really am outdated.

yes it is expensive and exhausting.

[wanttoheal]

But can be worth it.

I'm not sure about being worth it. I took the Dissociative Scale. The doctor giving it stressed I was to complete it as quickly as possible (which stuck in my head) After 6 weeks, the report came in. In short, she said I must be faking because the dissociation was so high.

[crazylife]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I'm not sure about being worth it. I took the Dissociative Scale. The doctor giving it stressed I was to complete it as quickly as possible (which stuck in my head) After 6 weeks, the report came in. In short, she said I must be faking because the dissociation was so high.

WHAT??? That's terrible. My score was really high and i would have been so mad if they told me that i was faking!!!

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I'm not sure about being worth it. I took the Dissociative Scale. The doctor giving it stressed I was to complete it as quickly as possible (which stuck in my head) After 6 weeks, the report came in. In short, she said I must be faking because the dissociation was so high.

Im sorry you went through that. maybe you can ask him which scores were high and which scores were low. psychiatric evaluations like the DES have special "scales" with in it and tests for many things like PTSD, normal dissociation vs abnormal amounts of dissociation, levels of depersonalization, levels of derealization, levels of dissociative amnesia, levels of dissociative fugue, validity, co consciousness, and many others.

it doesn not test for DID, it can point the way to a "possibility" but it doesnt say you are DID. it tests for levels of dissociation in all mental disorders vs normal dissociation.

the DES is also supposed to be used together with tests to be done without the persons knowledge like communication, observatory, memory, and other verbal tests.

All together some of the scoring is supposed to be high and some of the scoring is supposed to be low. usually if all the test results are scored as high even those questions that are supposed to show you have times of normal dissociation that everyone has, it points the testor towards the possibility that the person being tested may not be answering with complete honesty.

here in NY if you dont agree with a psych evaluations results you can get a second opinion.

my suggestion if you dont agree with the results, go get that second opinion. I did when I was first diagnosed. its hard sometimes accepting a mental disorder, I did not believe I had DID when the results said I did. when two psychiatric evaluations confirmed it I had no choice but to accept it.

it can work the other way too. a second evaluation can confirm what you already feel is your mental disorder.

Thank you Amandalouise
I went to that doctor only for a second opinion and will never EVER see her again. She was very scary! I already had the dx of DID before I saw her. My own T was furious at what she wrote.
That short little test has so many levels to it?? All I know is that I answered honestly and got a slap in the face. (As if we don't doubt ourselves enough)

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

Thank you Amandalouise
I went to that doctor only for a second opinion and will never EVER see her again. She was very scary! I already had the dx of DID before I saw her. My own T was furious at what she wrote.
That short little test has so many levels to it?? All I know is that I answered honestly and got a slap in the face. (As if we don't doubt ourselves enough)

yes the DES and other mental health diagnostic tests have many "levels" built in to them included but not limited to what I posted about.

[Puzzle_]

I find this interesting, about the physical exams and the MRIs , does the brain actually change when one switches? I dont mean to hijack the thread, was just wondering.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Puzzle_

I find this interesting, about the physical exams and the MRIs , does the brain actually change when one switches? I dont mean to hijack the thread, was just wondering.

no the brain doesnt change when one switches. the diagnostic criteria for DID is that the problems the person is having can not be because of other health problems that include seizure like diseases and disorders such as epilepsy, brain tumors, alzheimers and other neurological diseases. the physical tests, are to rule out or in those brain problems.

[Puzzle_]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

no the brain doesnt change when one switches. the diagnostic criteria for DID is that the problems the person is having can not be because of other health problems that include seizure like diseases and disorders such as epilepsy, brain tumors, alzheimers and other neurological diseases. the physical tests, are to rule out or in those brain problems.

Ah I see, hmm. Would have been interesting if these switches could be visually seen hah!

In my self, some can be seen. Eye color changes in me when I switch. Handedness changes ,even size changes.

[shoez]

cool topic

[Nammu]

I don't remember the names of all the tests I took, there were many, except for the MMPI. I remember that one because at the time I was living in MN, and it was very long, and I could not answer any of the religious quesions or the one about drop the hanky. Yet my doctor said it scored me as being the highest on the honesty scale of anyone he had met, that nade me feel good because I always felt like a lier with all the time I could not account for. Actually I was called a lier a lot, and a daydreamer, but those were the nicer names. I was so sure I had failed because I couldn't answer all the questions. He went over it in detail with me, they did that with all the tests. I do remember feeling like they were trying hard to convince me that the tests could not lie, that my diagnose was right. I didn't want it. I kept telling them they must have sombody elses test, not mine. I thought it would be a relief to know what was wrong-then I could fix it-instead it was just scary.

Later someplace else they gave me the MMPI again and they had changed the drop the hanky question--and I knew what it meant this time and was ready for it--I was so disapointed! I quess there must have been a lot of people like me who had never heard of that before.

What is this? Never heard of it.
" they had changed the drop the hanky question--and I knew what it meant this time and was ready for it--I was so disapointed! I quess there must have been a lot of people like me who had never heard of that before."

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by sidestepper

I don't remember the names of all the tests I took, there were many, except for the MMPI. I remember that one because at the time I was living in MN, and it was very long, and I could not answer any of the religious quesions or the one about drop the hanky. Yet my doctor said it scored me as being the highest on the honesty scale of anyone he had met, that nade me feel good because I always felt like a lier with all the time I could not account for. Actually I was called a lier a lot, and a daydreamer, but those were the nicer names. I was so sure I had failed because I couldn't answer all the questions. He went over it in detail with me, they did that with all the tests. I do remember feeling like they were trying hard to convince me that the tests could not lie, that my diagnose was right. I didn't want it. I kept telling them they must have sombody elses test, not mine. I thought it would be a relief to know what was wrong-then I could fix it-instead it was just scary.

Later someplace else they gave me the MMPI again and they had changed the drop the hanky question--and I knew what it meant this time and was ready for it--I was so disapointed! I quess there must have been a lot of people like me who had never heard of that before.

As far as I know no form of the MMPI (MMPI, MMPI2, MMPIA, MMPIRF, MMPI2RF, ..) contains any questions about "hanky"s I do know theres some falsified versions of MMPI floating around the internet as a way to get people to disbelieve the helpfulness, validity of psychological tests one of which does have a question about hankies and another question about bodily fluids and objects that are not on the actual psychiatric given tests.

I know many people who have viewed the online versions and have taken the actual psychiatric versions and gotten the two confused. many that I know had to take the psychiatric ones over again because they were so confused by the online versions.

if you are mixing up the actual version with the online versions, you are not the only one. the MMPI tests no matter which version you go by is very long and its hard to remember what actual questions were asked vs what you view online..

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

What is this? Never heard of it.
" they had changed the drop the hanky question--and I knew what it meant this time and was ready for it--I was so disapointed! I quess there must have been a lot of people like me who had never heard of that before."

to all concerned about the MMPI and"hanky" question -

one of my co workers just told me the very first copy of the MMPI written in the 1940's did have a question about playing a game called drop the hanky... back in the 1940's thats how a woman showed a man she wanted to spend time with him if he picked it up it meant yes he wanted her services... (prostitution and dating game)

that question was removed from the MMPI in the 1980's because women no longer used dropping hankies for prostitution and dating.

its purpose on the very first MMPI was to test for promiscuity and what was called "Hysteria" back in the 1940's Hysteria is now called Hystrionic personality Disorder.

I cant remember how many tests i took. Maybe 5. That was with old T and some shrink lady who was mean. We kept switching during the tests from the stress. New T said why did they waste your time testing?? Youre as split as a loaf of bread. I still dont know why in the world i let myself go thru all that stuff with old T. She was clueless.

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

to all concerned about the MMPI and"hanky" question -

one of my co workers just told me the very first copy of the MMPI written in the 1940's did have a question about playing a game called drop the hanky... back in the 1940's thats how a woman showed a man she wanted to spend time with him if he picked it up it meant yes he wanted her services... (prostitution and dating game)

that question was removed from the MMPI in the 1980's because women no longer used dropping hankies for prostitution and dating.

its purpose on the very first MMPI was to test for promiscuity and what was called "Hysteria" back in the 1940's Hysteria is now called Hystrionic personality Disorder.

Yep, thats the one..........Tells you how long ago I took that first test, it was in the 80's! and so my dr had to explain all of that to me, because I had no clue. I guess I assumed they called it a MMPI II or III because it was a different version. Still I felt cheated, I was ready for that tricky question! That was the only question I've ever remembered on any of those tests. The rest-they just blur together, although I took then far apart, I did have Egg or eegs to rule out seizures, and that big noisy maching where you can not where metal, like going inside a chamber-even without hearing aids it was very noisy.

All in all, I have to say I got very lucky with my first T and mt first real P-doc. After my T told me I didn't have to go to the clinic and see who was rotating there that day, but I could pick my own. I was so naive about it all at first. He gave me some names of woman P-docs and she was one of them.

They did a good job of making sure it was nothing physical because of all the trama I had had. When I was in 3rd grade our family doctor thought I must have a brain tumor because I had such bad headaches, and was losing weight. That year I learned to not believe what doctors said, if they said it wasn't going to hurt, it meant it was going to hurt and badly. If it was going to taste like a milkshake that meant it was going to taste like chalk. It turned out I had a bleeding ulcer they had given me this stuff to drink, some kind of barium drink so the could read the ( I think it was an x-ray) X-ray. This was in the 60's and they hadn't yet learned that you shouldn't lie to kids. The eeg/egg machine back then still had wires in it that they twisted into your scalp, it didn't really hurt but the glue was horrible, it smelled very bad, then the remover was worse, it triggered a migraine. That made the doctors happy, they hadn't believed my parents about how sick I got when one of those headaches came. I got them so bad, and then they had to call all these doctors to come and look at me because they had never heard of a 8 year old or is it 9 year old having headaches with symptoms like that. It was horrible, they never talked to me, I was just an interesting specimen. So because of that and the beatings from my husband the T and P-doc wanted to make sure there was nothing physical. But those two, always explained everything, I was always grateful for that.