**The Mental Health Thread**
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Don
It's a Positive step, and well done for making it
Caporegime
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Thought this was worth posting here, if anybody had gotten an ADHD diagnosis privately:
I don't have ADHD, but three private clinics say I do
A BBC journalist was told "You do not have ADHD" by an NHS doctor - but private clinics said otherwise.
www.bbc.co.uk
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Interesting. I'm on the NHS waiting list for this. I'm guessing it'll take years to happen, though.Thought this was worth posting here, if anybody had gotten an ADHD diagnosis privately:
I don't have ADHD, but three private clinics say I do
A BBC journalist was told "You do not have ADHD" by an NHS doctor - but private clinics said otherwise.www.bbc.co.uk
Caporegime
It's the same with a whole host of mental health disorders in that there are no concrete tests to diagnose them so results are going to vary.
It's no surprise that the NHS are going to be more conservative about diagnosing these conditions over a private clinic.
IIRC the outcomes are similar for things like autism as well. A friend got a diagnosis privately for high-functioning autism but the NHS weren't having it despite him being assessed multiple times over a long-period.
It's no surprise that the NHS are going to be more conservative about diagnosing these conditions over a private clinic.
IIRC the outcomes are similar for things like autism as well. A friend got a diagnosis privately for high-functioning autism but the NHS weren't having it despite him being assessed multiple times over a long-period.
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Caporegime
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45 minutes with a disinterested person on a video call is enough for them to give you prescription meds though. Seems wrong.
Caporegime
Many GPs will give you a prescription for an SSRI after filling out a 2 minute questionaire if you score the right way for depression or anxiety.
They are for-profit, private clinics. Of course they have a much lower threshold for diagnosis. Their business model relies on positive feedback. You get that by giving the patient what they want.
I am very much against private diagnoses of ADHD. I also very much appreciate why genuine ADHD patients use their services and benefit from them. But I also believe the majority of new diagnoses do not have ADHD, and as such are started on frankly dangerous medication and have a lifelong label that often shapes their sick role.
There is no benefit to the NHS of refusing diagnosis, other than someone doesn't have a diagnosis. Yes, there will always be the very very few that slip through the net, but if someone has been assessed multiple times over a long period, I presume by multiple NHS clinicians, then it's a fairly safe bet to say they don't have autism, whether or not they or you wish to believe it.
DOI: Worked in mental health, used to assess & treat ADHD patients, including those that sourced a private diagnosis.
Exactly this, addictive and dangerous medication when taken over years. It's shocking.
Starting an SSRI rather than titrating? No, no GP should be doing this, I've never seen or heard this done, it goes against NICE guidelines, and I suggest if you or any loved one experiences this you should make a complaint.
Caporegime
What exactly is your definition of titrating because I and many others I know have first hand experience of seeing a GP for the first time and walking out with a prescription for an SSRI.
That's not a problem.
Meds should always be started after a consultation rather than a questionnaire
PHQ-9 for example - 2 min questionnaire but SSRI should never be started purely on this and instead needs a holistic assessment that could include this.
Caporegime
Well that's exactly how it went for me, in and out in 5 minutes with no holistic assessment at all. A similar/same story for others I know across various GP practices.
I'll consider a complaint if it happens again though fortunately I've been off any medication for a while now.
I was recently diagnosed privately. I'm convinced my diagnosis is correct. This programme will do more harm than any good because getting a diagnosis and medication is difficult as it is and there's a massive stigma around the condition. This will just make things worse.
The real issue is the fact that I was told it would be 4 years on the NHS just for an initial appointment. I can't wait that long. That's the scandal here. I got myself into debt to get an assessment and I shouldn't have to even contemplate this. The other thing about this programme is the reporter went to the NHS and told them before his assessment what he was doing and why, yet didn't with the private clinics. That's not a controlled experiment.
I'm all for making sure diagnosis by anyone is done correctly, but what about the struggle of those of us seeking treatment? My whole life since childhood I've struggled and if I'd have been diagnosed back then my life may have been so different. Instead I've had 40 years of struggling at school, work, lost my marriage because of it. I'm so unproductive in relation to the economy that if everyone that has it was diagnosed and treated there would be many benefits as a whole.
It's just frustrating fighting for help only for the BBC to run with a story that makes us with it look and feel like frauds instead of reporting the complete scandal that is the total shambles of NHS mental health services.
As I said, it has a useful role for those genuine patients. I'm glad it sounds like it helped you.
I am a big mental health advocate. I have a special interest in it. About half of my daily appointments are for mental health. I promote and normalise seeking support for all of my patients.
These companies are profit driven. They can make inappropriate and inaccurate diagnoses. That's the issue I have with them. And this is what the BBC is highlighting.
I am a big mental health advocate. I have a special interest in it. About half of my daily appointments are for mental health. I promote and normalise seeking support for all of my patients.
These companies are profit driven. They can make inappropriate and inaccurate diagnoses. That's the issue I have with them. And this is what the BBC is highlighting.
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Like the current interview on Panorama, the one in his kitchen.
Clear scam. It belittles the struggles genuine ADHD patients go through. A simple money making scheme that can leave a patient with a possible incorrect diagnosis, with dangerous meds.
Clear scam. It belittles the struggles genuine ADHD patients go through. A simple money making scheme that can leave a patient with a possible incorrect diagnosis, with dangerous meds.
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I've just booked an appointment for an ADHD assessment with a private clinic. Yes, it seems *some* people will be diagnosed with it even if they don't have it. But many will get diagnosed much sooner than they would do on the NHS. The questionnaire i had to fill in asked all the right questions relating to ADHD but who checks whether you're truthful or not.
I'm pretty sure i have ADHD, i was diagnosed with it by an NHS psychiatrist in 2010 and genuinely have all the symptoms and traits apart from fidgeting, i don't fidget much afaik. For various reasons the treatment i was started on didn't work out back then, but i'm in a better place now than i was then, so if i'm started on treatment i think i'll respond better. I have to be careful though as i have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, ADHD meds can worsen this.
I'm glad these private clinics exist as i'd be waiting years nowadays for ADHD assessment/treatment but yes it does seem it's more about making money than actually treating people. One thing about the programme that was on TV the other night about it, it said the NHS ADHD assessment lasts iirc 2.5 hours, mine lasted about 30 mins face to face with psychiatrist who specialised in ADHD. That was in 2010, not sure if it's changed now.
I'm pretty sure i have ADHD, i was diagnosed with it by an NHS psychiatrist in 2010 and genuinely have all the symptoms and traits apart from fidgeting, i don't fidget much afaik. For various reasons the treatment i was started on didn't work out back then, but i'm in a better place now than i was then, so if i'm started on treatment i think i'll respond better. I have to be careful though as i have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, ADHD meds can worsen this.
I'm glad these private clinics exist as i'd be waiting years nowadays for ADHD assessment/treatment but yes it does seem it's more about making money than actually treating people. One thing about the programme that was on TV the other night about it, it said the NHS ADHD assessment lasts iirc 2.5 hours, mine lasted about 30 mins face to face with psychiatrist who specialised in ADHD. That was in 2010, not sure if it's changed now.
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I'm not sure i agree with this. They are usually slow release stimulants like methylphenidate in the form of Concerta XL. Yes an overdose would be bad and cause tachycardia etc but so do many meds. Some people think ADHD meds = amphetamines but this is only in very rare cases afaik. Concerta XL is a sustained and slow release stimulant which has lower abuse potiential (there's no rush or intense high like street stimulants) and lower addictive properties than regular amphetamines. I've taken it and amphetamines and they are very different. I self medicated with street stimulants for years and the meds are different, much milder and afaik safer. Some ADHD meds like Atomoxetine aren't even stimulants and have none of the associated risks.
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Soldato
At my work, colleagues retire and not being replaced. Plus now it’s the start of colleagues having more holidays. Then a couple of colleagues who seem to be on the sick.
We are stretched to the limit. Fed up of customers saying “is there anymore staff?”. Do they contact head office? No. Instead they bring on their moans to us which we have ZERO control over. My store manager has to contact head office to get permission to recruit. Gets refused. There’s no overtime available. Why does my manager need to get permission to recruit?
A colleague lost her dad this week. Mentioned to a customer that she’s off as her dad passed away in the night. Unsympathetic idiotic customer couldn’t care less. Show some bloody compassion
It does not help when OAPs shop on Saturdays. They are their own worst enemy. They cause the queues. Let those who WORK during the week to shop on weekends. My parents don’t shop on weekends. Even working age customers are even having a go at the pensioners on Saturdays.
We come home exhausted and feeling sick. Normally I do 13k steps a day. Past 3 days - I have done 55k steps.
When I’m stressed I’m more prone to pick up illnesses (that’s how I got Covid in March 2020) or having an asthma attack. The latter I definitely need time off to recover. The staff shortages making everyone ill and need time off sick.
We are stretched to the limit. Fed up of customers saying “is there anymore staff?”. Do they contact head office? No. Instead they bring on their moans to us which we have ZERO control over. My store manager has to contact head office to get permission to recruit. Gets refused. There’s no overtime available. Why does my manager need to get permission to recruit?
A colleague lost her dad this week. Mentioned to a customer that she’s off as her dad passed away in the night. Unsympathetic idiotic customer couldn’t care less. Show some bloody compassion
It does not help when OAPs shop on Saturdays. They are their own worst enemy. They cause the queues. Let those who WORK during the week to shop on weekends. My parents don’t shop on weekends. Even working age customers are even having a go at the pensioners on Saturdays.
We come home exhausted and feeling sick. Normally I do 13k steps a day. Past 3 days - I have done 55k steps.
When I’m stressed I’m more prone to pick up illnesses (that’s how I got Covid in March 2020) or having an asthma attack. The latter I definitely need time off to recover. The staff shortages making everyone ill and need time off sick.