[Tbhimscared]

So my past T never fully gave me an idea of what my diagnosis could be, but also never offered to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Personally, I probably already know what my diagnosis would be (I’m familiar with the DSM-5, psych student) and I know that a diagnosis won’t magically change my thoughts and moods, I’ll still be me whether or not I’m officially diagnosed.
Do you have a diagnosis? Or do you want to be diagnosed? What are your thoughts on diagnosis in general?

[healinginprogress]

Yes, I have a diagnosis. Yes, I want to be diagnosed. No, I've never actually had my T or pdoc sit me down and say, this is your diagnosis and what I'm basing my treatment plan off of. It's much more organic than that. Additionally, I itemize my medical costs for taxes, so I'm well aware of all my CPT and ICD-10 codes.

I can understand how someone wouldn't want to "be" a diagnosis, and I think Ts should respect that, but it's sticky because there has to be a diagnosis code, especially if they're billing insurance. So, if a patient doesn't want to know, then they don't know what their insurance is being billed for.

So, I think as long as people realize that just because you don't want a diagnosis doesn't mean there isn't one, then there's no need to make it/talking about it, part of the treatment plan.

I do think they can be overused and detrimental sometimes, as can medical diagnosis.

[kecanoe]

For me, the plus side has been targeting treatment (my diagnosis eliminates DBT, CBT, exposure...) It has been helpful for me to research it, and to give H and 2 friends some information about what I face. It has helped me to stop trying to decided if I have DID or not (I do per psych testing and two Ts since diagnosis).

On the other hand, I was also diagnosed with treatment resistant major depression. No ----, Sherlock!. That diagnosis was used to convince me to keep trying meds, and to eventually put me on an antipsychotic. I am off that now, because therapy helped and meds didn't. But at least at this point, I wish I had not taken all those AD. I was also diagnosed with mixed personality disorder; T3 refers to the dependent traits of that a lot-Sometimes I agree with her, sometimes not. And it was bad to read the personality diagnosis, knowing that those are hard to treat. In fact, the psychologist who did the testing concluded with the advice that I should just focus on reading and horses, since those bring me some pleasure and forget trying to forge relationships with people because I would never be successful with that. 6 years later, it is still difficult sometimes to proceed with therapy because of that opinion.

I suspect that pdoc would have convinced me to stay on/keep trying AD, mostly because that's what pdocs do with suicidal patients. So maybe that is not a downside. But I do have mixed feelings about being diagnosed.

For me, diagnosis required testing with a psychologist (Phd) who specialized in testing. It was an hours-long process and I did feel like he approached things with an open mind and asked good questions and didn't jump to conclusions. I appreciated that. My pdoc wasn't willing to diagnose me, although he definitely was thinking DID and as I said, depression was a no-brainer.

For me, the main benefit of a diagnosis is to target treatment. So if you are having difficulty getting the treatment you need, then I would ask for testing, regardless of if you want medical or therapeutic help. I would also factor in the unpleasantness of learning that you have a hard to treat condition. I do recommend going to a psychologist rather than a pdoc for diagnosis.

[LostOnTheTrail]

I've never sought a diagnosis, but knowing how readily and completely I identify with the symptoms of PTSD...I really don't feel I need to.

[Lemoncake]

Originally Posted by Tbhimscared

So my past T never fully gave me an idea of what my diagnosis could be, but also never offered to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Personally, I probably already know what my diagnosis would be (I’m familiar with the DSM-5, psych student) and I know that a diagnosis won’t magically change my thoughts and moods, I’ll still be me whether or not I’m officially diagnosed.
Do you have a diagnosis? Or do you want to be diagnosed? What are your thoughts on diagnosis in general?

For me personally knowing that I was borderline was helpful, instead of knowing that I was just depressed. It explained perfectly what was "wrong" with me, but more specifically trying how to learn how to manage it.

[MrsDuckL]

I could see pros and cons to this, I could certainly see it would be helpful with medication and for patient empowerment in general. Since I use insurance, my therapist explained in our first meeting he’s required to make a diagnosis for billing purposes. Part of me is curious to know what it would be, but mostly I don’t care—whatever lets me keep using insurance. (I checked my insurance account to see if it would be listed, but it just shows “psychatric care.”) If I had to guess, I’m fairly certain it would be PTSD, which I suppose would be accurate. But I’m so grateful that my insurance covers unlimited sessions without even charging a co pay for some reason—so I could be diagnosed with three heads for insurance purposes for all I care.

[Salmon77]

I have a diagnosis because the insurance company requires it. I don't have any feelings about it either way, we never talk about it. So I don't think it's very useful.

[toomanycats]

I have a bunch of diagnoses from various psychiatrists over time.
I used to care.
I no longer do.
I don't even know what my current psychiatrist has me diagnosed with.

[clueda]

Hm, I'm actually not quite sure!

When I first started seeing my T she diagnosed me with a moderate depressive episode. It was never written down anywhere and since then (3 years ago) she has not mentioned it again. When she told me back then it felt very validating to me.

I am pretty sure that I do not meet the diagnostic criteria for depression anymore. I feel like my T tries her best not to put me into a box and I appreciate that very much. However, I do sometimes wonder if I have any other diagnoses and I have thought lots of times about asking her but I'm just not sure.

(I have done quite some reading and am pretty familiar with the ICD and DSM and I suspect that I don't really meet the diagnostic criteria for any specific disorder. It seems like it's more of a mix-and-match of depression, anxiety and PTSD with me. )

[precaryous]

Yes, I’ve wanted to know what I’m fighting against.

[zoiecat]

My therapist diagnosed me as major depressive disorder moderate for insurance purposes in the beginning since then it's changed two major depressive disorder severe and DID and PTSD what insurance does not reflect this I only know this because of assessments that he sent to the Pdoc and it was listed on my last treatment plan. The only thing that really threw me for a loop was the DID. It was a bit of a shock and it took me quite a while to accept that. I still feel like a freak when I think about it nothing against anybody else who has it but I guess I'm still trying to get used to it. My therapist never actually told me my diagnosis though unless I asked and we discussed it after I saw it on his assessment to the other Docs. Now he mentions the PTSD all the time because I'm going through a stage where I don't want to accept help and I want to be able to fix myself. He keeps saying that there is no self cure for PTSD it has to be worked on through a mental health professional.

[lifelesstraveled]

Originally Posted by Tbhimscared

So my past T never fully gave me an idea of what my diagnosis could be, but also never offered to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Personally, I probably already know what my diagnosis would be (I’m familiar with the DSM-5, psych student) and I know that a diagnosis won’t magically change my thoughts and moods, I’ll still be me whether or not I’m officially diagnosed.
Do you have a diagnosis? Or do you want to be diagnosed? What are your thoughts on diagnosis in general?

Yes. I have PTSD. I am still in denial about it and hate that I have it. She said most ppl are relieved to know their symptoms have a reason. Me? I'm not relieved about it at all.

I'm not sure if I care either way that I was diagnosed bc either way my life is still a struggle with or without the diagnosis.

[BudFox]

I think diagnoses can be helpful if they are evidence-based and indicate what sort of interventions might be appropriate. Seems few of the conditions in the DSM are evidence-based. They are consensus-based, ideologically-driven, profit-driven groupings of behaviors and traits with arbitrary thresholds separating normal and abnormal, and usually with no reference to root cause. In my view they are damaging and pathologizing right from the outset, and on top of that provide little or no actionable information.

I count myself lucky not to have been infected by of any these diagnoses, at least nothing more than physicians listing "depression" and "anxiety" as symptoms.

I do and don’t have a diagnosis. I’ve received a slew of diagnoses throughout my life. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I, Major Depressive Disorder, and CPTSD. Though the last one isn’t an actual diagnosis since it’s not recognized by the DSM-V.

For me the diagnosis is important in the sense that I want to use that information to help guide my treatment. I’m in a place where I’m questioning whether or not I should be taking any kind of psychotropic medications, which would for me depend on my actual diagnosis. No one clinician or psychiatrist has diagnosed me with the same thing, so I don’t put a lot of stock into what labels are applied to me.

I think diagnosis is very subjective and often inaccurate, but they serve a necessary evil. For instance, I believe that I am at least close to being able to clinically diagnose as Borderline Personality Disorder. That label doesn’t change me, but empirical evidence shows that DBT may help to reduce my symptoms. Or if I’m Bipolar then I might should be on lithium.

So overall I support diagnoses but have no real idea what’s wrong with me. No one seems to.

[Carmina]

Originally Posted by daisydid

I do and don’t have a diagnosis. I’ve received a slew of diagnoses throughout my life. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I, Major Depressive Disorder, and CPTSD. Though the last one isn’t an actual diagnosis since it’s not recognized by the DSM-V.

Been through exactly the same, long term treatment resistant depression and GAD but gradually exploring other possibilities, BP, BPD and more recently CPTSD, which seems to be getting closer. I tend to treat any diagnosis as a working hypothesis rather than 'fact'.

Personally I think a good formulation is much more useful though.

[nottrustin]

Yes I know my diagnosis and have discussed it with both t and pdoc. Pdoc had me listed as bipolar. I strongly disagreed my T agreed with me. T has Major depression and complex PTSD. Eventually I asked Pdoc and she agreed with T and I. She had just never thought to change it.

[InnerPeace111]

I do not have a diagnosis. If I had to diagnose myself, it would be this: depression/fully recovered and GAD. I have no interest in a diagnosis for myself at this time for two reasons: 1) I do not see the benefit for myself as I already know and utilize a variety of coping strategies; and 2) I can feel that my therapist already sees me as a human being - perfect just as I am - without a label. I love how this feels and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

[Argonautomobile]

Yes, I have diagnos(es). It depresses me when I think about it. And sort of horrifies me to think what all those medical people imagine when they look at the list.

Too bad they don't make ICD-10 codes for "Great sense of humor" and "Likes long walks on the beach".

[sub-dural]

Yeah my PCP diagnosed me years ago with depression. It follows me on my medical record like a curse. Good luck getting doctors to take you seriously if you have a psych diagnosis/taking psych meds. I work in the medical field and this is all too common.

I don't know how it ended up with my PCP putting this on my record. I think it was the first time I had a PCP in many years and I stopped sleeping and eating and whatever, depression taking its physical toll, or I was manic or semi-manic depending on which psych doctor you ask at which time I've sought treatment in my life. Years later, when I'm consulting with a doctor, they will ask "why aren't you taking any psych meds" if I happen to not be on them. Here, take some amitriptyline, nothing is wrong with you.

There are pros and cons. That is just one con.

[BudFox]

Originally Posted by sub-dural

Yeah my PCP diagnosed me years ago with depression. It follows me on my medical record like a curse. Good luck getting doctors to take you seriously if you have a psych diagnosis/taking psych meds.

How ironic. Patients who receive a diganosis of depression ought to be asking doctors for an objective test to validate that diagnosis, and since there is none -- even after 60 years (!) of pharma-funded research -- the diagnosis should not be taken seriously. Docs who play this game are quacks.

[RaineD]

I would throw a book at my therapist if he tried to diagnose me. It's just my personal opinion, but I think jumping on a DSM diagnosis (unless it's for insurance purposes) is a sign of a bad therapist.