Can people be misdiagnosed with psychological disorder?

Question

A friend was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and receives diability for it. I don't think she has BPD and I think she should at least try and get a second opinion. But, I don't think I could ever convince her. Yes, I realize I could be wrong and that's why I'm asking. I really do care about her.

She was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. He is certified and all, but still...

She was denied for disability until she found a lawyer and got approved that way.

Majnun, I was thinking maybe if she was misdiagnosed, she could go out and work instead of being so dependent on the government.

Answer 1

While psychology has come quite a long way in diagnosing disorders; we still have quite a long way to go. One of the main issues with some disorders is what is called comorbidity -- a disorder may be closely related to another disorder and could even be identified as two co-existing disorders.

However, we additionally use a system known as the prototypical system. A person need not have a checklist of 20 criteria to be diagnosed with a disorder. 15 traits could denote disorder.

It is entirely possible in any medical field for someone to be misdiagnosed. Psychology is not unique in this aspect, and our criteria are far from subjective.

Answer 2

People are misdiagnosed all the time unfortunately, because everyone is human.

In order for her to get a second opinion, she would have to spend a good amount of time with them for them to get to know her and where she is coming from. She can take the tests and all of that, however a good psychologist and/or psychiatrist will want to spend a good amount of time to see where the patient is coming from and get a good history on them.

Diagnosing someone with a mental disorder can be tricky as it is up to the patient to share open and honestly what is going on with them in all prespectives. There are certain blood tests and things that can be done to determine certain disorders, but borderline personality disorder is more of what the patient is thinking and feeling.

Getting the second opinion to me is always a good thing. If she wants to go through all of that again or not. I would also look at the reputation of the one diagnosing her. There are a lot of people out there with degrees and certificates, however that does not mean that they are good at what they do!

Hope things work out!

Answer 3

I work at a Psych office...
Question- who did her testing to determine her condition???
A psychologist can do many personality tests to determine a persons characteristics, traits and things. It is made of questionaires, interviews and family history. It is enterd into a database online and it generates the conclusion to help the doctor generate the apprpriate diagnosis. The problem is that some people answer the test a certian way to obtain certian results.... She should see a Psyciatrist to see about being on medication and further diagnose her condition. Usually Psychologist and Psyciatrists can work in conjunction to treat the patient and have them live a normal life... oh and as most of you dont know.... a psychologist CANT perscribe meds only a Psyciatrist can!!!

Answer 4

It's very possible to be misdiagnosed. I have been dignosied with different things by different docters. I think a lot of it is what is going on with the person at the time, how long the docter actually talks to the person and there own perspective. She should get at least a secound opinion.

Answer 5

I've seen tons of psychiatric evaluations on social security disability applicants, and have not heard one of them having just a borderline personality disorder, and being approved for benefits. SO MANY DESERVE it, and don't get approved, for one reason or another.

Maybe there's more to the story than she is telling, or perhaps she simply does not know. Perhaps if she has to see the SS counselor, and they can give her all the info.on how she got approved.

God bless, and Good luck.

Answer 6

Yes.. she could have been misdiagnosed? I know my daughter said that to many people are put into a category that they really should not be! Maybe see about her getting a second opinion to be sure!

Answer 7

of course people can be misdiagnosed doctors all doctors are people first.
with something as serious as BPD she should try to get a second opinion tell her that, because if its something different she could get really sick from the treatment she's getting and it w/o helping her it could make her worse...

Answer 8

Your friend is exactly where she wants to be. She has the right diagnosis (whatever it is) to receive a check every month without having to get off her behind and work for it. There are multitudes of doctors out there who will lie for a patient so they can get disability payments........and keep the patient coming back. That way it's a win-win for both of them.

It's easier to label every little upset as something psychological than for a person to deal with their problems and move on. They're in the "Pop-A-Pill" club.

Answer 9

It happens all the time.

But if you don't have the credentials to make a diagnosis, it's not really up to you to judge. Why would she want a second opinion; so she can get her disability check taken away?

Answer 10

It happens all the time, psychological diagnosis is pretty subjective in most cases. What is "severe" is a personal judgment. It's one reason while I'm fascinated by psychology, I distrust it as a profession sometimes.