Who do psyciatrists think they are?

Post Reply New Topic

I recieved a letter from a psyciatrist out of the blue. I am waiting for an assessment for Aspergers (UK so I'll wait forever) after having a preliminary assessment from a private specialist.

This letter, from a doctor I have never met, says "after reviewing your notes, I would say it is highly unlikely you have a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome."

First of all I don't think she is being clear what she means. I know I don't have a diagnosis yet, so she doesn't need to tell me this. On the other hand she could be saying that she has looked over my notes and does not think I have AS.

Who do these people think they are? She has never met me and has only read my notes and thinks she can make a statement like that.

I think their profession is highly questionable and all they do is tick their boxes and slot you into a category they feel comfortable with.

How can a doctor you've never met say things like that?? you can't recognize an AS unless you're a doctor specialized in PDD and even then he needs to get to know the patient.

1) Go to someone specialized in PDD and autistic spectrum disorders

2) Get a clear YES or NO for PDD

3) if YES, then you know what you have, If you get a NO you'll need to see a general psychaitrist and figure out whether you have something else.

I got mine in the states (before even knowing what Aspergers was) in a depression clinic following a suicide attempt. After asking a lot of questions about my life in detail, they arrived at the conclusion.

I'm confused what was the purpose of the letter?

You sure that letter is for real? In the US it is unethical for a doctor to diagnose a patient without meeting them in person. Like malpractice lawsuit losing your medical license unethical, that serious.

Doctors are extremely busy and don't work for free, so an unsolicited letter from a doctor just doesn't sound plausible from the start.

The purpose of the letter appears to be that my request for a referral to the behavioural disorders unit has been rejected. I am quite surprised by it because it comes about 12 months or so after I requested the referral. She asks me to see her, but I will not because I moved from the area. But I cannot believe her opinion.

The letter is real, it is signed and has the NHS letter head, plus a stamp of the unit that issued it. It came out of the blue, and I have not even spoken or seen a doctor from the unit for about 12 months. The woman who signed the letter I have never even met.

I have written a reply asking for clarification and will send it on Monday.

Most psychiatrists in the UK are unaware of autism, Asperger syndrome and other PDDs. Mine actually had the guts to admit he knew nothing about it but then had the cheek to say I didn't have it and I had a personality disorder! Thankfully my Mum realised that this was stupid (how can you say someone doesn't have something if you don't know about it!?) and we were eventually referred to a professor at the Maudsley who diagnosed my AS. Unfortunately trying to get a diagnosis in the UK is like fighting a constant battle and I ended up getting quite unwell due to the psychiatrist's 'expert' opinion. I think a lot of psychiatrists have a bit of an 'I AM ALWAYS RIGHT' complex so challenging them can be difficult

I am wondering if the letter was intended to put me off going down the AS route. In the UK provisions are dire for Autism and such and the waiting list is long and our government is cutting more funding.

So maybe they want me to come off the list. But I feel angry I have been written to like this by someone I don't know.

It sounds like a bureaucratic decision and not a medical one (in other words maybe there were too many psych patients and that's why they didn't want to refer you).