Possible Misdiagnosis

I was diagnosed about 2 years ago as Asperger's with some psychotic symptoms. Since then, I have researched it and don't feel I have it since I did not exibit symptoms as a kid. I have other posts related to this...but this post it asking something different.

A friend suggested that I might have a personality disorder (she was a psychology major in college), so I looked into them. After a self evaluation I feel I meet the criteria for 2 or 3 of them (Schizoid, Paranoid, and possibly Avoidant). Obviously, I can't self-diagnose, so none of this is official. Though it would explain the "psychotic" symptoms a little better than Asperger's does.

I am just worried that the Asperger's may be a misdiagnosis. What's the best way to bring this up to my psychiatrist? What sort of testing would have to occur to rule out/in Asperger's or a personality disorder? Is it wrong to question the doctor's original diagnosis? I don't want to find a new dr for a new dx. It takes me a while to get comfortable with people and trust them and I am finally at that point with my current psychiatrist, so I want to stick with him. I just need suggestions on how to bring up the topic. Do I just come out and say it?

If you are at all uncomfortable with bringing it up then perhaps you could print your post off and give it to him. That way you'll also be sure to say exactly what you mean and won't have to worry about saying it wrong because you are nervous. I think you explained yourself in your post very well and think it would be received fine.

It's not wrong to question it at all. Doctor's misdiagnose all the time. Don't be afraid to question things if you don't feel like something fits. You know yourself better than your doctor.. if it took you this long to be comfortable, could you not have been comfortable with the doctor just because you weren't comfortable with his diagnoses? Or did you maybe leave some things out that would have gave a different thing to diagnose with you? Just some thoughts.

I think if you have a doctor that can't help you to understand why they diagnosed you the way they did or a doctor that would get offended with you questioning it then you probably need a new doctor anyway. Maybe you could just say something like "I've been reading about it on the internet and don't feel it fits me"..(but he might say don't believe everything you read on the internet, not understanding it's from reliable websites).. If he asks why then explain it. Maybe you could print the stuff you did find on personality disorders and check off what you do have and show why you think you should be diagnosed with that instead.

Or maybe just beat around the bush and get him to tell you why he thinks you have that and kind of say that it doesn't sound like you.

Well, I originally went looking for an Asperger's diagnosis as a lot of people were asking me if I had it and I thought I did after reading about it. It was not until recently that I thought about how I was as a kid and even asked my mom and now question the Asperger. So, I liked his diagnosis origianlly, so no that was not what made me uncomfortable.

I did not ask for the "with psychotic symptoms" part of the original dx however. He put that on himself. I agree with that part entirely.

The psychiatrist that evaluates you will provide a diagnosis based on his/her findings. The diagnosis may or may not agree with the one you would like. The psychiatrist, however, is the professional.

Have you thought about asking for a second opinion from a different psychiatrist?

Good luck.

to evaluate aspergers you really ought to have been tested... i loathe hearing that doctors forego testing. To be evaluated for personality disorders simply request that you be given the MMPI test. It takes a couple of hours to do but it is reliable and accurate for personality disorders and it even has built in safeguards for people who try to cheat or fake disorders.

for asperger's i found that the standards for diagnosing have changed. The DSMIV was published more than 16yrs ago and a lot of information has been gathered since then.

Just wanted to add we are soooooo much more than our diagnosis, it does not define us or who we can be in this life

I would get a second opinion just to be on the safe side. There is nothing wrong with it and I would also share your concerns with your pdoc. Doctors make mistakes, they are human too.