News Do You Think Ptsd Criterion A Should Be Proven Before Diagnosed?

[Cheshire]

It's like saying "here you can have this diabetes medication, but first you have to run a mile."

No, it's not. Before you're given diabetes medication you undertake the required tests (blood glucose tests etc) to ensure that the symptoms you're suffering actually are as a result of the medical issues that signify diabetes.

 

[anthony]

Well the same could be said about any mental illness.

Actually its not even close to the same as any mental illness, as stated in the initial post, PTSD is the only diagnosis in the entire DSM that proves a legal burden of proof upon diagnosis; no other diagnosis does this.

If you Google PTSD criterion A controversy, you will quickly gather insight to the complication surrounding this exact debate.

 

[redfox]

No, it's not. Before you're given diabetes medication you undertake the required tests (blood glucose tests etc) to ensure that the symptoms you're suffering actually are as a result of the medical issues that signify diabetes.

Yes, you are given non-invasive, simple tests that require nothing more from you than the pain of a needle prick. What you all are proposing is putting people with undiagnosed PTSD through an emotional, financial, and bureaucratic wringer before they are "allowed" to be treated. Can my trauma be legally documented? Probably not. Can I afford to take 2 weeks off from work? No i cannot or I will be homeless. Therefore, no diagnosis and treatment for me. Sounds like a great plan.

 

[shadowchaser]

It's like saying "here you can have this diabetes medication, but first you have to run a mile."

Actually they almost do. To receive medication and assistance for diabetes you have to maintain a blood sugar of 200 for 24 hours or a blood sugar of 70. There are many who are diagnosed as prediabetic who are refused medication because drastic life changes can "help" to control their levels. It can take years in some cases to get a full diagnosis and true medical assistance for this disease. Even after you are diagnosed it is a constant fight and jumping thew hoops to get the medications that work for the individual. This is because of the cost of maintaining the disease and the insistence of proof from the insurance companies.

 

[shadowchaser]

I'm only stating from my knowledge red. Please don't be upset. There have to be other alternatives out there but how else will they ever be found if debates such as this are not done.

(((redfox)))

 

[Cheshire]

(edited)

Like I said, it is a tricky thing. Some traumas cannot be legally documented, and so there needs to be other ways. Some people have suggested institutionalisation, some have suggested other things, I've suggested various other tests. Obviously there's a lot of controversy and discussion going on over this in the psychological community etc too, and I'm sure there are reasonable suggestions out there as to other ways to prove trauma.

 

[Reclusive]

I could see requiring a certain number of psychological/psychiatric visits prior to diagnosis. It took them a year to diagnose me and 5 years to diagnose my fiance, so I guess I'm not really familiar with the concept of walk in, get diagnosis, walk out. In fact, the clinic I go to does a preliminary diagnosis on intake and you get your official diagnosis after 6 months of treatment, so I don't see that as unreasonable.

But institutionalized might be a big stretch and sleep tests might be a bit much. I can't sleep anywhere but my own bed (otherwise, I'd love to do a sleep study - I've been an insomniac my whole life) and, like others have said, I can't drop my life for 2 weeks - I have another sufferer to take care of (who is taking care of his disabled dad and grandad).

 

[Linda Lee Bogard - King]

A professional therapist or psychiatrist can observe PTSD traits in patients. We act differently for starters - most of us are hyper when confronted with issues similar to the bad experience we had and how we act when telling the story to a doctor; our body language can tell a lot to a true professional. I have no problem confirming diagnosis.

 

[anthony]

the clinic I go to does a preliminary diagnosis on intake and you get your official diagnosis after 6 months of treatment, so I don't see that as unreasonable.

I would say that sounds quite reasonable and to me it seems your clinic obides by the mental health doctine.

On the flipside of that, what you're unemployed and awaiting disability pensions for PTSD? Do you go broke and lose everything over a 6 month period? Is there an alternative way for legitimate sufferers to get diagnosed with more rapid assessment, ie. as was proposed with a clinical type checkin for constant assessment for 2 - 4 weeks!

Some good points coming out, all of which too have a flipside. Interesting... I see how this has created such issues within the mental health profession for the time it has now being exclusive from every other diagnosis.

 

[anthony]

A professional therapist or psychiatrist can observe PTSD traits in patients. We act differently for starters - most of us are hyper when confronted with issues similar to the bad experience we had and how we act when telling the story to a doctor; our body language can tell a lot to a true professional. I have no problem confirming diagnosis.

Incorrect. There are proven studies where they gave people some prior training on how to act and what to say, then present to experts for assessment, the results of which have spanned from a 50% diagnosis to 100% diagnosis being achieved, when none of them had PTSD to begin with.

These documented studies toss this out the door. Do a Google scholar search for faking PTSD, and many other terms you could use to describe faking, and see the study results come up and read through them. Scary stuff.

I read one a while back, they did this with one of the top experts... and they still got 10% through who didn't have PTSD. They mixed them with legitimate sufferers... still margin for error even from the best in the business.

 

[Linda Lee Bogard - King]

Here in the states you may apply for social services to help with some income but the state will get its money when you win your case. If not? Well, ya can't get blood out of a stone and the state doesn't make you pay it back if you lose. But, yeah - they want you to go broke so you give up - then finally get ANOTHER job that will be short lived then back in the same mess... don't work if you make a claim - they use it against you.

 

[Reclusive]

It took me two years to get on disability. From what I understand, in my state they evaluate off symptoms and capabilities instead of diagnosis. So they send your docs questionaires that say 'can patient do x' but I know each state is different in the way that they handle it. I can't remember the timeline exactly, though, I'd have to dig out all the paperwork.