Diagnosis - in UK

[Snookiebookie]

Hi

I know that there is much debate in the mental health community about the merits of having a diagnosis.  I understand that there can be stigma with having (certain) mental health conditions. However, despite twenty plus years of being in the system, of periodically having treatment, I've never been offered a diagnosis.

I have asked. I was told that it's the treatment that matters.  As treatment in the UK is essentially free, my options are limited. If the medical practitioner won't offer a diagnosis, they won't.

I've been told by IAPT (a kind of referral agency) that is unlikely that anyone will see me to diagnose me - they will only offer treatment.

I've made enquiries in the private sector and they're only interested in signing me up for a set number of sessions of treatment.

I've had extensive treatment over the years. 2 X counselling, one lot of psychodynamic therapy, integrated therapy, and 2 X ,CBT.  I'm currently paying for humanistic/relational counselling (she's avoided diagnosis too). 

I recently managed to get referred to the NHS psychology team. They have discharged me - they could only offer me nine weeks of counselling.  The closet I got to a diagnosis was that my issues she caused by my history, the inconsistent parenting and bad life experiences.

So my question is, to those of you in the UK, how did you get a diagnosis?

I would like to know because, after all the problems that I've had, it would be satisfying to have a name for what's going on.  It would give me peace of mind.

Many thanks

Snookie

[Rainagain]

I had to pay privately for a diagnosis and report.

A diagnosis can only come from a psychiatrist and in the uk you tend only to meet one if you have been in a residential unit on the NHS, not on request.

It costs between 250 and 1000 pounds plus depending on the status of the psychiatrist, they tend to be NHS employed with a private practice on the side.

I would use one who is still working, some retired psychs will be about but you want one still up to date with current research, especially as cptsd is new and not clearly defined.

You might get a diagnosis of PTSD as cptsd isn't fully recognised.

You might get something else entirely, I've had 3 assessments over the years and 3 different diagnoses, related but different.

It depends how you present on the day, what the psych picks up on and where their interests lie/how they have been trained.

You need to recognise that its not an exact science, you may not get what you expect and that a diagnosis doesn't make any real difference anyway as treatments are going to be therapy and/or meds whatever they decide you are suffering from on the day.

If you want to spend money then find someone who has a private practice and ask, if they agree then get your GP to refer you to them on a private basis.

The process was stressful for me, mostly the worry beforehand, one psychiatrist was brilliant and I felt great afterward. One was neither here nor there and one was poor (he was the most expensive I think and wasn't still working in NHS).

I've never thought about it before but there may be a charity that helps people get a diagnosis, its a gap in the NHS and charities often fill gaps like this.

Personally, I got mine done for a specific reason (court case, to help employer make the right decision around disability etc.) I don't think I would put myself through it without a reason.

I've not heard of iapt but there is a psychiatrist register you can try in uk, you will get declined but persevere to find one that will do the work.

[Eyessoblue]

Hi, I'm from the uk too, I'm being treated for cptsd but only in therapy does she refer to what I talk about as being part of cptsd, I had a psychiatrist on the nhs assess me and was trying to go down the bipolar route with me but I didn't meet the criteria, he talked about trauma and PTSD and how I needed to have emdr plus antidepressants, both of which I've had on the nhs, the nhs only provides up to 12 weeks of therapy but once discharged you can reapply but have to rejoin the waiting list. My therapist on the nhs has said I have cptsd but like you I have never had this in writing so to speak. Lots of flaws in the nhs for mental health I'm currently waiting for an anxiety assessment which should have been in May but I got lost in the system so now waiting again, meanwhile my anxiety spirals out of control. I'm looking up local therapists who specialise in trauma/cptsd but these are really hard to come across.