Posted by Ritch on July 16, 2002, at 22:54:06
In reply to Re: Someone please shoot some holes in this story..., posted by Squiggles on July 16, 2002, at 16:44:58
> Just passing through and saw this;
> I think the problem is "prophylaxis" -
> that concept allows docs to give drugs
> idefinitely for a presumed indefinite
> psychiatric disorder. The consequence
> of that, is that there is no empirical
> test by which to determine whether you
> initially had the disorder or not.
>
> Furthermore, discontinuation after many yrs
> of drug taking can be lethal.
>
> I think we have a mess.
>
> Squiggles
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly-if the diagnosis is in any state of *dispute*. It would be a tragedy to be misdiagnosed from the get-go and have that anchor around your neck for many years needlessly. I would agree however.. that if you are *correctly* diagnosed (bipolar, i.e.), from the get-go, that you ARE dealing with an "indefinite psychiatric disorder". I am bipolar and have went off antimanic agents (and all meds) in the past and gotten all sorts of horrid results. The scary thing is obviously-what if you get misdiagnosed as bipolar (i.e.) frm the getgo and are given antimanic agents that you don't really need. However, they *do* calm you down and seem to address other symptoms (partially or indirectly), and so that tends to *confirm* the diagnosis. You truly would have a MESS, because that person would need to get off meds and be re-evaluated by a 2nd or 3rd pdoc to accurately determine the correct diagnosis. WHAT IF that person gets terminated at their place of employment based on psychiatric drug usage, which is BASED ON a misdiagnosis.. The plot thickens further.Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:112339
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020709/msgs/112598.html