Do I Really Have Ptsd?

[Grace511]

I was diagnosed with PTSD about a month ago after 2 hours worth of testing. The testing involved an IQ test and questionnaires. A psychiatrist performed the testing. I was wondering how he could of come up with a diagnosis based off of my answers on a 200+ questionnaire?

 

[JustBe]

Welcome to the Forum. Sorry I can't answer but I'm very curious to see what others have to say.

 

[pie]

I have a little bit of knowledge in psychological testing. Do you by any chance remember the name of the test? Also, in what form was it in? If it was 200 questions I wonder if you took the MMPI (very widely used tool by mental health care professionals) which pretty much tells the doc of the hidden patterns of your answers. There is a formula to it. And if you maybe noticed, many of the questions are the same but worded differently. That's where the pattern will show, how you answer the same but different questions, if I'm making any sense.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I've been tested by the DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale) and another that I think starts with an "M". I've been tested by both multiple times. I definitely have PTSD. The dissociative disorder is up in the air. I'm somewhere between "normal" and having DDNOS. But, I over think the tests so that's where I get into trouble.

I don't know how they do it, but they do. I've heard that these tests can also pick out the fakers because these people exaggerate all their symptoms.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

But, I over think the tests so that's where I get into trouble.

I never understand these, I should fill in a DES questionnaire and a SDQ20 (Somatoform Dissociative Questionaire) and am loathed to do it without some further understanding of what it all really means, I mean it seems obvious and at the same time incredibly confusing. With the DES for example I score somewhere between the high forties and low eighties depending on my interpretation of what it all means, that's a pretty big gap.

For Grace's question however; if your psychiatrist assessed you only using the forms I would be very much surprised. From the moment you walk in, a professional will be picking up on your behaviors, speech patterns and body language. That then accompanies the reason you're seeing the professional in the first place for example unexplained pain, panic attacks or nightmares. Your professional obviously has some reason to believe that you have PTSD, out of curiousity, why do/don't you believe this as maybe then I (and maybe others) will understand better?

When I was diagnosed with PTSD, it was to correct a prior misdiagnosis of Aspergers syndrome. My psychiatrist actually asked me if I thought it was something in particular, to which I replied that I thought it was PTSD, I was so wrapped up with the diagnosis for this that I didn't mention things relating to another concern which I wasn't ready to share about. However she mentioned things that at the time I didn't pick up on, relating to that concern and now I have to go back for further diagnosis. All I mean by this is that diagnosing isn't easy, isn't always right first time and is different for different people, however it is also the same for many, hence the broad understanding of symptoms pertaining to a disorder. It is also important to realise how big a part denial can play into minimising and/or downplaying your own problems for what ever reason - not that I'm saying you are in denial, just that it can be a powerful trick of the mind.

 

[Lucycat]

I was wondering how he could of come up with a diagnosis based off of my answers on a 200+ questionnaire?

I would suggest you ask the psychiatrist!

( Did he not also have a referral from someone - such as a GP or therapist - giving a bit of background indicating why you needed an appointment to see a psychiatrist?)

 

[Grace511]

pie-yes it was the test like you described.

Kas_Can_Fly and Lucycat-I see a psychologist in the same practice as the psychiatrist who administered the test. She wanted me to get testing to rule out a bunch of other diagnosis that a totally different psychiatrist gave me after seeing me for 20 mins in his office with no testing. The only reason I question the diagnosis is because I do not have flashbacks like the literature suggests.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I do not have flashbacks like the literature suggests.

Not everyone has flashbacks. From what I remember reading on here, from what Anthony wrote, true flashbacks are 'rarer'. I don't have flashbacks and I don't think I ever have but I know I have PTSD. No question about that.

 

[Lucycat]

I see a psychologist in the same practice as the psychiatrist who administered the test

So the psychologist will have told the psychiatrist about you, your history and your symptoms. That ( and your behaviour/body language as discussed above) together with your test results will have informed the new psychiatrist about the likely diagnosis. He will be an expert in psychiatric diagnosis. Not all people get all symptoms. Additionally some people get symptoms they don't recognise.

I still think your best bet is to ask the psychiatrist to explain his reasoning if you are not comfortable with it. On here we are not professionals, but fellow sufferers and supporters. None of us is qualified to answer your question on an online forum.

How much does the 'label' matter to you? If the majority of symptoms fit then it might be that therapy usually used for PTSD would help you - regardless of the diagnosis.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

As Lucy says I would see your psychiatrist again and query this. But it isn't unheard of for people to not have flashbacks with PTSD, they can present as obsessive thoughts and/or patterns, nightmares, dissociation, unknown pain, unknown emotional experiences, non-full body flashbacks (affecting not all senses, maybe only sense of smell or hearing). In may not be quite as common to experience it this way, but it still happens fairly often, enough that in a few minutes of googling (or searching this site) that you are not alone.

Katy.xx

 

[Grace511]

I will explain more things to my T next week and then will have her explain the diagnosis to me further. I will get a print out of the psychiatrists report. I totally forgot to do that last time I was there. It was more detailed and might be more beneficial to me.

 

[Pencil]

I do not have flashbacks like the literature suggests.

I had flashbacks during a very short period (about 3 months). It is not a regular part of PTSD for me. It is extremely intense and I don't think a real flashback occurs often, and not as often as some members report to experience.