I’m currently in hospital and they want to give me a detailed psychological assessment to check I really do have schizophrenia. Has anyone had one of these and passed was it hard. I’m worried because if I’m deemed to have sz I get clozapine which feels like last chance saloon I don’t know where things go if they say I don’t have it…
PFL x
By “pass” do you mean get a diagnosis of sz or not get a diagnosis of sz?
I had a very detailed psychological assessment. They went through all of my medical files, interviewed me for about 4 hours, and made me fill out like 20 pages of written interviews and psychological tests. Then they tested my IQ and took an MRI of my brain and discussed my case in their team of psychiatrists and psychologists before settling on schizophrenia.
I was just honest. I think the best strategy is to be honest. Clozapine can be a lifesaver if you’re treatment resistant and really do have sz.
I never had to do hours of assessments before my dx. Is this normal? Maybe I don’t actually have sz?
I don’t think it’s normal in the US. We have had many large (and some still ongoing) national research projects on schizophrenia and psychosis where I live, so I participated in one of those, which is pretty normal here. They diagnose you and collect data about you for their research at the same time. It’s free and voluntary.
I told my Doctors that I drove to another province in Canada, and threw a rock at a giant outdoor drive-in movie screen…to try to get my delusion to stop.
Let’s just say no further testing was necessary. 
I’ve only ever had one detailed written assessment,
And it was when I was a teenager.
I just don’t think its as much of a thing here in the states.
I seriously doubt my diagnosis too, but sometimes I think maybe that’s the nature of the illness.
My doctors just look at the previous doctor’s diagnosis and take it as fact.
Maybe we can ask for further testing?
Hey I took a train across the country to hide some screws cos I thought they were attracting helicopters! Job done.
I have a similar story.
I told the pdoc that “there is a marshmallow feeling in my brain. That is her door. Also I’m Jesus. K bye.”
I did a whole day of psychological testing with some kind of special psychologist and she ruled out schizophrenia as a diagnosis. She said I had some sort of anxiety disorder. I don’t really remember. I was still medically retired from the military for paranoid schizophrenia. That’s what my separation papers say. My VA diagnosis was Chronic paranoid schizophrenia but now I believe it is just plain schizophrenia but they also say I have a trauma disorder.
I didn’t think I was sick at all at the time. Don’t expect too much from it. There is no test for schizophrenia. You either have the symptoms or you don’t.
Thank you everyone I guess I want to pass ie be diagnosed sz cos if it’s not that I don’t know where I go next…
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