Monday, February 10, 2014

Complaining of Pesticide Poisoning Gets a Label of Mental Illness in DSM-V

"The Work Group is not proposing to classify Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia within the DSM-5 'Somatic Symptom Disorders' section, but these patients and others with conditions like chronic Lyme disease, interstitial cystitis, Gulf War illness and chemical injury will now become particularly vulnerable to misdiagnosis with a DSM-5 mental health disorder."
My doctor tried to pull that crap on me!
My fingers were failing off. She didn't want to give me pain meds, but was quick to say I had anxiety. YOU would too if your whole body was falling apart. AND NO DOCTOR WOULD TEST FOR CHEMICAL EXPOSURE.
The pills (samples) she gave me were 99% Fluoride too.

I am never going to a doctor...Ever again, unless it is the emergency room from now on.
And, they can take your kids away from you with diagnosis.
• DSM-5 allows for a diagnosis of 'Somatic Symptom Disorder' when a parent is considered 'excessively concerned' about a child's symptoms.


"Incautious, inept misapplication of these highly subjective and catch-all criteria will likely result in frequent inappropriate psychiatric diagnosis with far-reaching implications for both the health care industry and diverse patient populations. Harms include:

• Stigma

• Missed diagnoses through failure to investigate new or worsening somatic symptoms.

• Patients will be prescribed inappropriate psychotropic drugs with consequent side effects, complications, and costs.

• There may be limits imposed on the types of medical tests and treatments offered for patients misdiagnosed as having a mental disorder.

• Misdiagnosed patients may be disadvantaged in employment, medical and disability reimbursement.

• An additional diagnosis of 'SSD' in a patient's medical history may negatively influence decisions made by agencies involved with social and medical services, disability adaptations, education and workplace accommodations.

• An inaccurate SSD diagnosis will skew the person's view of herself and her illness and perceptions of family and friends.

• In multi-system diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Behçet’s syndrome or Systemic lupus, it can take several years before a diagnosis is arrived at. In the meantime, patients with chronic, multiple somatic symptoms who are still waiting for a diagnosis would be vulnerable to misdiagnosis as psychiatrically ill.

• DSM-5 allows for a diagnosis of 'Somatic Symptom Disorder' when a parent is considered 'excessively concerned' about a child's symptoms. Families caring for children with any chronic illness may be placed at risk of wrongful accusation of 'over-involvement' with their child's symptomatology or of encouraging 'sick role behavior.' By what means will a practitioner accurately assess an individual's response to illness within the context of the patient's personal, family and economic circumstances and reliably determine what might be considered 'excessive preoccupation' versus a positive coping strategy for that patient and family?

• The burden of the DSM-5 changes will fall particularly heavily upon women who are more likely to be casually dismissed when presenting with physical symptoms and much more likely to receive inappropriate antidepressants and anti anxiety medications for them.

"The Work Group is well aware that patients, families, caregivers and advocacy organizations are strongly opposed to the DSM-5 changes. During the second DSM-5 public review, the 'Somatic Symptom Disorders' proposals attracted more responses than almost any other category.

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