How to get tested for a mental condition

[CTB_random]

I am wondering how to get a mental health test to try and get a diagnosis to find out what is wrong with me. I live in ohio if that helps/matters

 

[Ch4in3dcr0w]

psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed therapists can legally diagnose you but all of these cases go along with theraphy so they know what to even test you for. So your best bet is therapist who after a few sessions might diagnose u with something and after the diagnosis he might send u to a psychiatrist for drugs on this diagnosis. Much love and good luck

 

[iichi]

you would probably need to see a psychiatrist. i'm not sure how it works in america but there's a few methods that work best here in canada and i can imagine it would be similar. i'll list them in order of
you can go to a doctor, just a GP even at a walk in clinic, and ask for a referral. explain your symptoms and generally they will be able to find you a psychiatrist that is taking in new clients. way easier than calling around and most psychs are by referral only.
therapists can also refer you, as well as psychologists, but going to your family doctor is probably the quickest route. this can take some time though, at least here.. it's not uncommon to wait around 6 months to actually see someone once you're waitlisted, but after that this is usually the best option as you have someone long term who will keep up with your records.

here in canada we also have public psychiatric services. this is generally a good route if you need help quickly and other psychs are booking too far out or it's hard to find one taking on new patients. ours are capped at 3 visits max and this is generally used as a buffer to get people help while they're waiting to find a long term mental health practitioner.

the fastest route is going to the psych ward. i don't really recommend doing this unless you need meds in an emergency. if you are put on a psychiatric hold for suicidal behaviour or any other extreme mental break, they will have you see a psychiatrist while you're there. it's usually brief, there are rarely follow up visits (though you may have to stay there and be monitored on your meds depending on the circumstances), and generally they won't give you the highest level of care. that being said, it does work. i got diagnosed with BPD after a 5150 from a suicide attempt. they medicated me. it was an overall crappy experience but the meds did help and i'm glad i was able to see someone right away since waiting wasn't really an option for me at that point.

good luck!

 

[CatAstro.Fee]

you would probably need to see a psychiatrist. i'm not sure how it works in america but there's a few methods that work best here in canada and i can imagine it would be similar. i'll list them in order of
you can go to a doctor, just a GP even at a walk in clinic, and ask for a referral. explain your symptoms and generally they will be able to find you a psychiatrist that is taking in new clients. way easier than calling around and most psychs are by referral only.
therapists can also refer you, as well as psychologists, but going to your family doctor is probably the quickest route. this can take some time though, at least here.. it's not uncommon to wait around 6 months to actually see someone once you're waitlisted, but after that this is usually the best option as you have someone long term who will keep up with your records.

here in canada we also have public psychiatric services. this is generally a good route if you need help quickly and other psychs are booking too far out or it's hard to find one taking on new patients. ours are capped at 3 visits max and this is generally used as a buffer to get people help while they're waiting to find a long term mental health practitioner.

the fastest route is going to the psych ward. i don't really recommend doing this unless you need meds in an emergency. if you are put on a psychiatric hold for suicidal behaviour or any other extreme mental break, they will have you see a psychiatrist while you're there. it's usually brief, there are rarely follow up visits (though you may have to stay there and be monitored on your meds depending on the circumstances), and generally they won't give you the highest level of care. that being said, it does work. i got diagnosed with BPD after a 5150 from a suicide attempt. they medicated me. it was an overall crappy experience but the meds did help and i'm glad i was able to see someone right away since waiting wasn't really an option for me at that point.

good luck!

Can't even lie I might have to do this because the waiting list and unavailability of therapists is ungodly. :/

 

[EvisceratedJester]

the fastest route is going to the psych ward. i don't really recommend doing this unless you need meds in an emergency. if you are put on a psychiatric hold for suicidal behaviour or any other extreme mental break, they will have you see a psychiatrist while you're there. it's usually brief, there are rarely follow up visits (though you may have to stay there and be monitored on your meds depending on the circumstances), and generally they won't give you the highest level of care. that being said, it does work. i got diagnosed with BPD after a 5150 from a suicide attempt.

^I would argue that this is how you get a misdiagnosis rather than a proper one. A proper diagnosis should, ideally, take time. By that, I mean that I believe that psychiatrists shouldn't be allowed to diagnose their patients until they have at least spent an extended period of time with them (maybe around 8-10 sessions minimum). Along with that, they should have to go over each question on whichever assessment they are administering very carefully to ensure that patients fully understand what the questions are referring to and are able to answer accurately.

I got misdiagnosed with two disorders (OCD and MDD) by one psychiatrist back when I was in this inpatient psych program for youths, along with another misdiagnosis of GAD from another psychiatrist I was seeing as an outpatient. All of this could have been avoided if they had put in place rules that kept psychiatrists from diagnosing patients they had only seen once or a few times before. Now, I have to see another psychiatrist next week and I will seriously be pissed if they try pulling that same crap.

 

[Rynalia]

^I would argue that this is how you get a misdiagnosis rather than a proper one. A proper diagnosis should, ideally, take time. By that, I mean that I believe that psychiatrists shouldn't be allowed to diagnose their patients until they have at least spent an extended period of time with them (maybe around 8-10 sessions minimum). Along with that, they should have to go over each question on whichever assessment they are administering very carefully to ensure that patients fully understand what the questions are referring to and are able to answer accurately.

Oh my god, thank you. Finally someone else that shares this sentiment.

Wards are a place meant for stabilization and maybe skills training. NOT diagnosis.

No ward I've ever been in has had any MH professional spend nearly enough time to get an accurate read on dare I say anyone. Seeing someone for at tops a few minutes is not conducive to actually understanding the problem.

However, if someone is a long term patient, they (MH professionals) might start hitting that point where they begin to have a much better idea. Just by virtue of frequency of meetings and duration of observation.

Misdiagnoses are far more harmful to an individual than not getting a diagnosis at all, in my opinion.

Not only does it direct treatment a certain way (i.e. being drugged with stuff that treats one illness effectively but not helpful at all for another or using x method of therapy where y might be more conducive to recovery) it also leads both the professional, and sometimes the sufferer themselves to look at things from a specific angle and miss important additional details... Which is totally dangerous because of illnesses that may present themselves similarly, or missing potential co-morbidity.

If you want a diagnosis, best bet is to find a professional that you click with and work with them for a while. If you can, shop around until you find someone you can tolerate, and that doesn't treat you as a paycheck, but as a person that matters.

Getting on the right track from the beginning will save you from a lifetime of potentially increased suffering.

 

[TBONTB]

I am wondering how to get a mental health test to try and get a diagnosis to find out what is wrong with me. I live in ohio if that helps/matters

What is your insurance situation?