Has Anyone Had An Assessment With A Forensic Psychiatrist?

[Sandstone]

The latest thing from Mental Health Services is that I can't start therapy until I've been tested for Borderline and had an assessment with a forensic psychiatrist. I'm not so worried by the Borderline thing. I don't want to end with it as a label, and I don't believe it applies. Much more to the point, I've just got my husband to go through the criteria, and he thinks none of them apply to me long term. I think one - that is - "Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood, e.g. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety, which usually lasts for between a few hours and several days." could apply, but he attributes it mainly to PMT. Overall IF I have Borderline then appropriate treatment would be better than inappropriate treatment.

However the forensic psych. thing really disturbs me. It appears to go with secure units and the like, and doesn't make a lot of sense to me or to my understanding of myself. It all seems like one more way to delay actually helping.

I'm also worried because I know that now I look and act nothing like myself when I see any of the MH services, because I'm afraid and can see no reason to trust them any more. Again, my husband say that I fall to pieces as soon as we go near them. I can't see how any assessment can accurately judge who I really am.

 

[desiderata310]

That sounds terrible. Are you supposed to testify or something? Is someone trying to see if you incapable of making rational decisions? Good heavens!

 

[Laura 2]

What is 'Borderline'? Is it one of those made-up disorders for when they don't know what's wrong and they want to consign patients to the 'write-off bin'?

The only time I've heard of Forensic Psychiatrists is when an online acquaintance was threatened with one and being sent to Broadmoor to silence her. She'd been serially raped by psychiatrists whose colleagues covered up.
After a very long battle which cost the woman her health, sobriety and sanity, she won in total £1.5million in damages from the NHS. It was in the national papers but only briefly.

 

[Laura 2]

PS - just wondering what it says when we feel terrified to meet with NHS MH staff??
I certainly do. But for a different reason:
I'm at the point where I'm thinking they don't listen, they don't have a clue about what we're really suffering, they don't have appropriate treatment - and they're probably NOT the people who are going to help heal us. Especially when all they seem to have to offer is a) 12 weeks of CBT and b) drugs of dubious efficacy but which knock you out and make you feel even worse.

 

[Sandstone]

Sorry --should have explained - I took an overdose and crashed my car into the entrance of the local MH unit. The story is in https://www.myptsd.com/threads/i-ought-to-be-phoning-the-crisis-line.41135/

The police have said they see no benefit in pursuing it and have made that recommendation to the CPS. I'm still concerned that there might be some sort of legal action. I have also wondered though about suing them - I think the lack of treatment has been very destructive for me. I saw on the local news this week that he family of a young man who killed himself are suing because of delays to any treatment for him. So I suppose this could be a preventative measure on their part, but that seems a bit Machiavellian.

 

[Springer80]

Labels are not particularly helpful on the whole. Just one was. Knowing I had ptsd finally was a sort of retro-active epiphany and all of sudden lots of things made sense. Also I could research the physical symptoms etc, so it did help in that respect.

I used to go out with someone who worked in mental health and he told me he thought I had border line personality. Fact is he wasn't qualified to say that and was rather screwed up himself. Essentially when people don't have a vested interest in helping you out of a situation they can very easily find the most negative thing to call you, especially if it keeps you in a position of benefit to them. The personality bit of bpd is the bit that pisses me off. Your personality is essentially you the individual. So calling someone bpd is a very pernicious thing.

I have seen a forensic psych after I was off work for a year or so. She said I had a depersonalisation disorder, or at least that's the ticket they gave me at the counter!! What I mean by that is it sort of felt like a tombola raffle. She isn't particularly a fan of labels either as it goes but I needed something concrete for some boxes to get ticked.

Like you say, taking these tests is not an accurate science. They only display how you feel at the time, under the duress of scrutiny and anxiety for possible consequences. If you hadn't guessed, in terms of ptsd treatment I am not a fan of the NHS but I have to qualify that by saying, I very much doubt I would be a fan of state provision and attitudes if I suffered from it anywhere in the world. However I never had the guts to show my displeasure by kamazai-ing into the local hospital! I'm impressed! Were you Thelma or Louise?

I've gotta say I don't know what books your husband has been reading on PMT!! I'm pretty baffled by that. Although my parents would sometimes try to placate/avoid the events that led to my condition by trying to ascribe it to anything they could clutch at. It hurt and distressed me a lot and increased my isolation and despair. It really hurt actually. Deny the rape and abuse, deny the affect on my health, deny anything is wrong etc etc.

Surely if they aren't going to press criminal charges then there is no need for you to be forced into this 'punitive' appointment? Or is the appointment to determine if you were effectively not responsible for your actions at that time? Do you have a choice, can you opt out?

One last thing, long term ptsd left untreated creates related separate 'conditions' like depression, anxiety etc. Anxiety left for too long can create episodes of mania, bipolar etc and if your treated by someone who doesn't get the root cause, you get slapped with numerous individual labels. It feels like branding and it shouldn't happen and is inaccurate.

My last thing to say and the most important thing I noticed about what you wrote:

I can see no reason to trust them any more

it doesn't make a lot of sense to me or to my understanding of myself. It all seems like one more way to delay actually helping.

I don't believe it applies

 

[Pencil]

So I suppose this could be a preventative measure on their part, but that seems a bit Machiavellian.

Don't underestimate this. Could you get legal advice?

Is this a state appointed psychiatrist? You really need to walk into this with your eyes wide open.

 

[Laura 2]

Sorry --should have explained - I took an overdose and crashed my car into the entrance of the local MH unit. The story is in https://www.myptsd.com/threads/i-ought-to-be-phoning-the-crisis-line.41135/

The police have said they see no benefit in pursuing it and have made that recommendation to the CPS. I'm still concerned that there might be some sort of legal action. I have also wondered though about suing them - I think the lack of treatment has been very destructive for me. I saw on the local news this week that he family of a young man who killed himself are suing because of delays to any treatment for him. So I suppose this could be a preventative measure on their part, but that seems a bit Machiavellian.

Thanks for that detail, it makes a bit more sense of the Forensic Psych appt. They probably want to make sure it was just a one-off and that if you get the right degree of MH support you're not going to make a habit of it!

But what a terrible worry for you. On top of such inadequate treatment. Nowadays, with all the horrendous experience I have had of NHS MH 'services' I wouldn't hesitate to litigate again. Maybe a good idea to check out your position with a specialist lawyer ? (I can recommend a specialist firm if you PM me.)

Just make sure not to tell NHS though that you've taken legal advice or are considering it, unless the lawyer advises it.

Other than that, my experience and also third party knowledge of police is that they are often remarkably pragmatic and even kind to people with MH problems. Besides, IMHO, a temporary psychotic/intoxicated fugue wouldn't hold much, if any, chance of conviction for CPS, especially if you can show lack of treatment/clinical negligence.

PS - like @Springer80, I'm in awe at the Thelma/Louise effort! Personally, though I wouldn't waste my car or anything else on them.

 

[Springer80]

Yeah totally....If I were you I'd delay at least. Figure out your options.

 

[Laura 2]

Can you find yourself a mental health advocate to go with you? Someone from e.g. MIND?

 

[Springer80]

Just read the link you posted to the thread the evening of the accident. You NEED representation at any and all meetings with them. It doesn't sound to me like you were suicidal at all, merely trying to contain your symptoms with no help. Certainly the length of time they have left you hanging is atrocious but unfortunately not unheard of.

The fact you stated in that thread that you couldn't remember past the third post you uploaded is the very reason why you need someone to assist and defend you that understand your condition and the legalities of the situation.

I most definitely think they will be considering the possibility that you might press legal action and @Pencils post is a fair comment.[DOUBLEPOST=1401404173,1401404070][/DOUBLEPOST]Clinic for Dissociative Studies London might be able to help?

 

[Pencil]

I honestly believe that the legal adviser let it drop that you could sue their asses off - and they are taking preventative measures. I'd get legal advice about options asap. I read the other thread, and you feel like crap about what happened and will most probably be so grateful for not getting into serious shit that you'll be grateful for whatever clemency you get - and in the process sign away or give away all your power.

Here's something to consider:

Link Removed

Of course my take on this could be totally wrong. But then I'm wrong and you are better equipped to deal with this.