Any psychiatrists here? Help needed?

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I'm not one...yet... but that's what I am back in school to become.

I'm sorry, my friend, but my opinion is no. I don't think so. The basis for this opinion is that the person suffering from this disorder has an altered perception of reality. I think it would be dangerous for the subject and those around the subject to allow him to be armed. Missed medication can sometimes result in wide perception and mood shifts.
 
Missed medication can sometimes result in wide perception and mood shifts.
Click to expand...

The relative in question is not on any medication. Please clarify.

The relative in question has only been diagnosed by a military expert - whose decision might have been motivated by administrative, rather than medical motives - (he's based such decisions that way before).

How does aforementioned relative

a)Ascertain correctness of diagnosis? What would the symptoms be?

b)Generally adjust his future lifestyle to it? What is this thing anyways?

PS:

Would it be legal for said relative to purchase firearms in the U. S. of A.?
 
I'm not a psychologist (yes,I realize you said "psychiatrist," and I do recognize the difference, but a psychologist should be able to field this answer, to some extent, too.), but from what I read about it,, if one showed all the symptoms, I would have to say, "No, this person probably shouldn't be trusted with firearms."


Now, Schizoid personality disorder is NOT the same as Schizophrenia, the way I read it. If that set of criteria were to be met, I would remove all qualifications and say, "N0, this person should definitely NOT be trusted with firearms." (Schizophrenia includes delusions [often/usually paranoid], and frequently includes hearing voices.)

People who have trouble relating to others? I don't see a problem with them having firearms unless it can be demonstrated that they are a threat.

People who have paranoid delusions? Need to give up their firearms until therapy has satisfactorily treated them to a full recovery.

--Matt G
Moderator, layman
 
Well, your relative could seek second opinions from other doctors... however in the mental health field, putting such a diagnosis on the patient's records is a permenant and life altering thing... thus it is not something they do lightly. The second opinion doctor would most likely consult with the doctor that made the diagnoses and review the screening process used.
Your loved one will have to make some lifestyle changes... I he/she has an interest in firearms - they will have to develope another interest.
Sometimes these conditions can worsen. The bad part about it is that it is the patient doesn't even know they are getting worse or even have the condition at all.
Watch the movie "A BEAUTIFUL MIND", it illustrates this condition as pertaining to one famous case.


Mat, your pretty much correct, but my understanding is that Schizophrenia and Schizotypal disorders are comorbid... closely related... as in it's a mild form of Schizophrenia that can sometimes without treatment develope into full blown Schizophrenia.
 
I am not a specialist Micro ..... but did have to study the subject back in 60's when medical training to be an osteopath.

I will just give a 2c . nothing more.

IMO a diagnosis of true schizophenia .... would need to be ratified by two independent Dr's . not just one ..... unless it was a case of extreme severity .... in which case even the lay person could probably get it right!

''Schizoid Tendencies'' however are, again IMO ... another ball game .... and this can be tagged very loosely and often inappropriately. Many people have slight ''Schizoid Tendencies'' .... only in as much as they have mood swings linked with slight apparent variations in personality.

The true scizophrenic to me is the classic case of seeming dual personality ... the individual cannot either predict when changes occur ... they might even (tho overplayed somewhat in movies) .. ''hear voices''. The greatest danger would arise when the level of ''paranoid schizophrenic'' is reached ..... the highs and lows of change being pretty extreme ..... and responsibility as we know it .... could go right out the window.

This would definitely not be a safe person to own a firearm.

OK ... I reiterate - this is just stuff dug up from many years ago ..... plus having also known a true schizoid ...... and that case most definitely would not have been safe with any weapon.

George will probably correct me on all this ..... I may be too out of touch. But anyways - I still think two opinions are essential before applying the full diagnostic label.
 
For that first link provided, parts 4 and 7 are totally true, 8 and 9 are partially met (the "fears" generally diminish with familiarity and are unrelated to paranoid fears).

What are "ideas of reference"?

P.S. And a schizoid personality disorder is?
 
The second opinion doctor would most likely consult with the doctor that made the diagnoses and review the screening process used.
Click to expand...

In actual fact, because Israeli psychiatrists are aware of the way military experts work, the general rule that one can get the decision of a military expert re-evaluated by a private one after service... for a certain fee. Military experts know that and are unafraid to deal out diagnoses just to help a person's administrative situation (to aid in transfer to a different unit etc.).
 
P95Carry, I think in the US that is correct... if not the rule, it's the unwritten rule because of the impact that just the diagnosis can have on the patient's life.
But in Isreal? I'm not sure.
 
Stress is a huge factor. Avoid anything stressful... From stressful work situations, converstions, to even music.
Your relative will have to learn some good stress management techniques.
Take up an expressive hobby, such as drawing or painting... that's always a good thing.
Finding a good therapist is important.
 
On one hand, most of the definitions on that site don't really apply to relative in question...

...on the other hand, the implications are now totally different from what the military expert originally said.

In fact, the new implications are scary
 
It doesnt have to be scary. It can be controlled and worked with and regulated.
Hence my statement that a finding a good - civilian - therapist is important.
 
I aam not a licensed psychologist but have received graduate training in psychology. You may want to refer to what in the U.S. is titled the Diagnostic and Statitistical Manual or DSM, or a text titled the IICD, which is the non-APA equivalent and probably applicable to your nation. They list the criteria and symptoms necessary for a diagnosis. My background is in social psych and not clinical, but from my classes on assessment I would have to say that it would be unlikely that either a person with either diagnosis would be competent to handle firearms, and dependent on severity, even something as seemingly benign as power tools. I cite a case frequently when a florid schizophrenic drilled a hole in his own skull with an electric drill as an example.

While all the advice you have been given seems wise, PLEASE seek out a real live professional if this is a real issue for you. The potential ramifications in a situation like this are too great to leave to chance.
 
Micro, I'm not the best one to talk to on this matter. You need talk to someone who has the credentials in dealing with this. Sendec is absolutely correct.
 
Believe it or not, it's difficult to answer your original question without more information and being able to meet with the individual in question for a face to face interview.

I agree with the above comments that your relative needs another assessment completed by a civilian psychologist. Preferably a clinical psychologist who specializes in assessment and has experience in working with individuals who have been hospitalized. Stay away from a psychiatrist, as they are generally not well versed in standardized assessment--they may simply run through a quick interview.

As far as a referral, I would recommend that you check APA--while their politics leave something to be desired, they probably have the most comprehensive listing of professionals.

www.apa.org

Additionally, take a look at

aabt.org

They have a link on the left to "find a therapist", but I'm not sure whether they list practitioners outside of the US.

Good luck.
 
No im not one but I just finished a advanced psycology class in college and my educated opinion is heck no. people with this is very unstable, what sometimes apears to be normal is far from normal.
 
Micro, did you get an answer on "ideas of reference?" Didn't see one. Ideas of reference basically means that the person believes that inoccuous events in the environment have special meaning (reference) for him/her.

Agree with others that your family member needs competent professional assessment and treatment. There is no substitute for face-to-face evaluation.

RJ
 
The original question addressed: Schizoid personality disorder and a Schizotypal personality disorder.

Schizophrenia was not mentioned and is something quite different...unless the original diagnosis was wrong, and that's not at all unusual. People act differently at different times and some people have multiple problems.
Yes, the 2 personality disorders mentioned can mimic parts of Schizophrenia and might even approach it in some ways, but they aren't the same thing. Check the current DSM for the checklists. WARNING: reading the DSM will make you crazy when you start thinking YOU have all the symtoms.

Mental health diagnoses are frequently wrong or incomplete. I have been working face to face with individuals with all sorts of disabilities for 29 years and part of the job is reviewing their medical records. Heck, straight out of grad school they had me reviewing Social Security disability claim files for two years to identify individuals who might have the ability to return to work. My job was to decide which ones to send out for the field offices to contact.

In a nutshell, it's fascinating to read 5, 10 or 20 years or more of psychological evals, psychiatric evals and hospital discharge summaries (among other things) and see the variety of diagnoses one person can accumulate over the years. I realize that in many cases all of the diagnoses are correct at the time they're made, but in many others it takes time to figure out what is really going on.

The personality disorders, including the two mentioned initially, can be just as difficult to diagnose as the more 'serious' and debilitating ones like Schizophrenia. Not that a personality disorder can't foul up your life, it's just not the same as a psychosis. And yes, thousands and thousands of people hear and see things.

The folks with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality are well known for getting a different diagnosis every time they are seen by someone new. It just depends on how they're acting and feeling when they're seen.


Without seeing the original report I wouldn't hazzard a guess about the accuracy of the diagnosis or the ability of the individual to safely handle guns.

I recommend a new evaluation if the person is unreliable and untrustworthy. If this is more or less an academic question concerning a diagnosis on a military form from 10 or 20 years ago I wouldn't worry about it much.

My personal opinion is...you or the immediate family and friends already know if this person is dependable or behaves too erratically to be trusted. That's what the evaluating psychologist or psychiatrist is going to ask you anyway if you participate in the evaluation. If you don't participate, well then who knows what the person will tell them and what the diagnosis will be based on the BS they're told.

It's late, I'm rambling on. That's enough for now.

John
 
Getting a second opnion from a psychologist would be a must if you ask me. It is vital to get formal and standardized testing (MMPI is one that comes to mind) to substantiate any diagnosis of something as serious as anything related to schizophrenia.
You would want a good assessment in order to get a good evaluation for possible medications.
Schizophrenia, n related disorders, are traditionally thought of as having their onset in late adolescence n early adulthood with the most common period for onset in the 20's. It is a progressive disorder, i.e. one that the symptoms of which are likely to worsen with time, especially when not appropriately medicated. Current stability as assessed by you n family
members is not to be trusted once a professional assessment points to schizophrenia or a related disorder as there is always a possibility for a sudden psychotic break, which may lead to irrational n dangerous behavior.
Such was the case with the Wedgwood Church shooter (a shooting that very strongly n closely affected me) - he was cared for n protected by his family until a lack of supervision(not only supervision by his family but also by a professional) n appropriate medication lead to what some consider his psychotic break n the shooting.
Medication in the case of schizophrenia n related disorders is so vital to keeping the disease from progressing that certain researchers/psychiatrists/scientists etc. are taking on a controversial
pre-emptive therapy of younger patients who have a strong history of schizophrenia in their family n thus a high likelihood of developing the disorder themselves. It is controversial because of the known side-effects of the medications used.
Seeking a professional opinion n assessment should involve testing if at all possible.
So if you ask me - No guns! At least until a professional evaluation is done.
Nik
 
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