So I went to my new pdoc today. She doesn’t think I present with schizophrenia. She says my late onset (46) along with the fact that I don’t have a flat affect either with tone or verbal expression along with some other factors leads her to feel I don’t have it. I have appropriate emotional response and I am animated. I don’t hear voices or see things either. I had an abusive childhood along with neglect and an extremely stressful life up until my first psychotic break and she thinks my break has to do with my stress vs having schizophrenia. However, stress can bring about the symptoms od schizophrenia in someone predisposed to the illness. I have a strong delusion and I have inserted thoughts related to that delusion. In short, I think people are controlling my brain and talking to me in my head. My meds have slowed that down considerably. Having delusions, she point south, doesn’t mean you have schizophrenia. Other factors need to be present. Anyway, she doesn’t feel I present with schizophrenia and it makes me wonder if maybe my chances of permanent remission are better. I didn’t ask her. I may just have a delusion without having schizophrenia. I didn’t know that was possible. At the end of the day, I am still on the same meds to treat my delusions/psychosis (Trileptal and Risperdal). She wants me to do CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) to treat my insomnia. I know the label doesn’t matter too much as long as you treat the symptoms but I also wonder if my chances of permanent remission might be better than I thought. I’ll ask her next time. Also, she could be wrong. Maybe my old pdoc was right and I have schizophrenia
Psychiatric patients get misdiagnosed all of the time - I don’t think that it’s all that uncommon.
I don’t think that you can blame psychiatry for this completely.
Mental illnesses are very difficult to diagnose.
After all there are no reliable tests like there are with physical illnesses and conditions.
A psychiatrist will diagnose you based on what you tell them and through observation.
I am currently in the process of getting a new diagnosis.
I am currently not on any psychiatric medications - it’s been about a month and I am not displaying any Hypomanic or Manic symptoms.
So far this should eliminate a Bipolar type 1 diagnosis. But it’s still too soon.
My psychiatrist is monitoring me very carefully.
I am however experiencing very brief mild illusions and visual Hallucinations, this might be part of an illness or it could also be part of the AP Withdrawal process.
Hopefully your psychiatrist will monitor you and observe you carefully.
It is important to communicate your symptoms to your doctor.
Good luck with everything.
You’re right, as long as I am being treated correctly, that is what is important. I will be honest with her. I am in the hopes that whatever I have, I have a chance of permanent remission. I won’t hold my breath, though.
I am really in the same boat as you.
You should feel glad that you probably don’t have SZ. I’ve been diagnosed undifferentiated SZ. I take Trileptal too. What does that do for you. Do you know why you are taking it?
My psychologist thinks I may have ‘Delusional Disorder’ instead of schizophrenia and my new pdoc isn’t ruling that out. I have no auditory or visual hallucinations and I don’t have any negative symptoms. I just have this powerful delusion that is overwhelming and hard to get rid of.
I was originally diagnosed with bipolar and the Trileptal was prescribed as a mood stabilizer and we just haven’t gotten rid of it yet. I guess we don’t want to fix what isn’t broken. I am stable right now. My first episode was a delusional psychotic episode that ‘looked like’ mania but it was really psychosis and delusion. The hospital that I went to when I had my first episode diagnosed me with bipolar and put me on Trileptal and Risperdal, my pdoc then said it was schizophrenia. Now, my ‘new’ pdoc says I am missing too many classic schizophrenia symptoms for it to be schizophrenia. My therapist and my new pdoc think it’s much closer to delusional disorder. I tend to think it’s delusional disorder too (based on everything I have read and learned) but what do I know.
That is great. If it is not sz you have a much higher chance to recover. Be happy you don’t have negative symptoms or hallucinations. Negative symptoms are the worst. Delusional disorder is hard to have too, but I believe it is easier to treat.
I hope you get help with your insomnia. Lack of sleep makes symptoms worse.
@47average Did you have a single isolated episode of psychosis?
Was their a Trigger like Extreme Stress or was their an illicit drug or a new prescription medication involved?
bipolar psychosis could be similar to schizophrenia…
@Wave I was under extreme stress when I had my first episode. Nobody doubts that was a contributing factor. Like a lot of people, my psychotic episode made no sense. I suddenly, out of nowhere, became convinced that I was being studied and that the whole world was watching me. I felt as though I was hypnotized and being controlled. I was dancing in the street and behaving strangely. That’s why they originally thought it was mania. It wasn’t though. It was psychosis. I have never before thought of something so outlandish and strange. Now, a little over a year later, that is still the only delusion I have. I had 2 other episodes related to my one delusion. I have had other strange beliefs that have come and gone but they are all related to my belief that I am being studied. In particular, my brain is being studied. The delusion came on suddenly, out of nowhere (at 46) and I still have it a year and 2 months later. I never had any symptoms (positive or negative) in my life prior to my first episode.
@Comatose They adjusted my meds and I am sleeping much better now. They went back to my previous dose of Trileptal. My pdoc doesn’t think I have Bipolar but the Trileptal made me sleep before they reduced it so she brought it back. She said it is less dangerous than Ambien or Trazadone.