self diagnosis on DLA claim form

kurgon

dmg24 wrote: »

The best way I think to describe it is that my moods are bipolar, my social skills aspie? I have a formal diagnosis for bipolar, but whilst psych's agree I am most likely on the scale they see no point in formally diagnosing it as one diagnosis is enough (the joys of the NHS!). Conversely, with juveniles they are far more likely to diagnose aspergers for someone with the same symptoms because it fits more into the norm.

Thta's generally accurate. If you look at the ICD 10 (diagnostic coding book) the list of behaviours for aspergers and bi-polar have some similarities. However, there are also similar behaviouirs for prodromal schizophrenia, emotionally unstable personality disorder (borderline type) and delayed development disorder to name but a few. This is why self-diagnosis is so dangerous Psychiatrist who have been in the business for a long time are often unclaer as to exactly what some-opnes presentation is, and will also often put a further differential diagnosis (ie. other pssibilities of what the behaviours may suggest).
There i no evidence to link aspergers with BPD, but googling a list of symptoms can indicate both.
Beware of those sites where you input your symptoms andf they give you a diagnosis - the last time I did that I allegedly had leukemia - I actually jhad a bad cold!!

~Chameleon~

Sorry for going off-topic, but does anyone here with bipolar also have a heightened sense of smell, taste and/or hearing? Wondering whether there's a connection or whether it might be caused by something entirely different.

jetta_wales

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Sorry for going off-topic, but does anyone here with bipolar also have a heightened sense of smell, taste and/or hearing? Wondering whether there's a connection or whether it might be caused by something entirely different.

How's your sight? Limited sight can lead to such senses being heightened.

With smell and taste that can be pregnancy lol.

~Chameleon~

jetta_wales wrote: »

How's your sight? Limited sight can lead to such senses being heightened.

With smell and taste that can be pregnancy lol.

Sight is perfectly fine thanks, can spot a needle in a haystack!

And no, pregnancy out of the question - not that this is a new phenomena, it's something I've been aware of for many years!

kurgon

manky_old_veg wrote: »

I have emotionally unstable personality disorder with adhd plus possible ASD. so nah!

Yes, you probably do.

JackInABox_2

I'd advise you not to put it on the claim form - as you have no evidence and it could leave you in a tricky situation when they ask your doctors about it.

Besides, a self-diagnosis isn't even a diagnosis - let a professional do the labelling. All you have to do for ESA or DLA is provide a run down of how your ailment (whatever it may be) effects your life.

Additionally, what you think is Bipolar II may in fact be Cyclothymia or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.

dmg24 wrote: »

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/160/1/184-a

(Found on Google, but the journal is a respected one and it gives a good overview.)

That doesn't demonstrate any correlation between the prevalence of bipolar disorder in the population of patients with Aspergers, when compared to the population without.

It is merely offering advice to clinicians who are treating Aspergers patients who happen to also have a diagnosis of Bipolar. (hence comorbidity)

I also fail to see any similarities between Bipolar or Aspergers, even in the ICD (F31.* vs F84.5).

Aspergers presents with a very strict pattern of behaviour and routines along with impaired reciprocal social skills.

Bipolar (Type 2 in this case) presents with re-occuring depressive episodes in addition to the presence of at least one hypomanic episode. Furthermore, often the presence of hypomania can be demonstrated in a persons social interactions being the opposite of what one would expect on the autism spectrum - overly confident, relaxed and "the life of the party"; to the point it could borderline on narcissism.

Ugnaught

My mental health nurse also wrote "Anxiety, Schizoaffective disorder, Agoraphobia"

Doesn't my what my mental health nurse say count as a diagnosis?

LadyMorticia

AdeW wrote: »

My mental health nurse also wrote "Anxiety, Schizoaffective disorder, Agoraphobia"

Doesn't my what my mental health nurse say count as a diagnosis?

Not sure but I thought it was only a psychiatrist or GP who had the power to diagnose.

It also depends if it was written on the CPA or not. My CPN says that on the CPA a diagnosis has to be written, so if your mental health nurse is your care co-ordinator than he/she might have had to write a diagnosis down.

Best to maybe get an appointment arranged with your psych to check.
If you're not under the care of a psychiatrist, an appointment can still be arranged for a chat. That's what my CPN arranged when I just wanted to clarify things a bit.

Ugnaught

CPA? do you mean Care Plan Assessment?

I have looked at my care plan written by my CPN and it says "social anxiety"

kurgon

CPA soes not have tp incluse a diagnosis as it is a review of your needs. The care plan comes out of the cpa meeting (normally wither 6 monthly or yearly.
In relation to the meaning of CPA it is care program approach. This should be a meeting directed by your care coordinator and involve those who are actively contributing to your care.
It may be that your nurse is getting the disgnosis from the consultant in which case they are formal diagnosis. Ask him/her where they came from.