RYL Forums - View Single Post - Do you think mental health disorders are overdiagnosed?

S33menow · 30-07-2013, 05:16 AM

I live in the UK. I was with CAMHS from age 8 (maybe earlier but don't remember) to 14. Then from age 16-18. Then adult mental health 18+. I was in an inpatient unit at age 10 for 6 months and again at age 17 for 4 weeks. I have been in and out of specialised foster care since the age of 3. When I was 8, I was diagnosed with a severe attachment disorder (pass a child from home to home and it's inevitable, right?) this was later changed to a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder at age 17. I've seen tons of psychiatrists, yet only had 2 diagnoses. It's kind of incredible that I haven't been overdiagnosised.

Since becoming an adult, I have not had any treatment from adult services but I have been through 3 different antidepressants through my GP as adult mental health really don't take much interest. I did see one adult pysc a few times and he said I should be on antidepressants but left it to my GP to sort them...

I agree with Sherlock that it is very difficult to get treatment and the only reason I received so much from CAMHS was probably due to the fact that my social worker and foster carers fought for it. Had I lived permanently with my birth parents... well, I wouldn't actually be alive.. :P I think the UK's approach to MH is just to ignore it until it almost repeatedly kills the person or they hurt those around them.

30-07-2013, 05:16 AM	#20
S33menow Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Devon, UK I am currently:	I live in the UK. I was with CAMHS from age 8 (maybe earlier but don't remember) to 14. Then from age 16-18. Then adult mental health 18+. I was in an inpatient unit at age 10 for 6 months and again at age 17 for 4 weeks. I have been in and out of specialised foster care since the age of 3. When I was 8, I was diagnosed with a severe attachment disorder (pass a child from home to home and it's inevitable, right?) this was later changed to a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder at age 17. I've seen tons of psychiatrists, yet only had 2 diagnoses. It's kind of incredible that I haven't been overdiagnosised. Since becoming an adult, I have not had any treatment from adult services but I have been through 3 different antidepressants through my GP as adult mental health really don't take much interest. I did see one adult pysc a few times and he said I should be on antidepressants but left it to my GP to sort them... I agree with Sherlock that it is very difficult to get treatment and the only reason I received so much from CAMHS was probably due to the fact that my social worker and foster carers fought for it. Had I lived permanently with my birth parents... well, I wouldn't actually be alive.. :P I think the UK's approach to MH is just to ignore it until it almost repeatedly kills the person or they hurt those around them.