Misdiagnosis Correction Assessment

Psychiatric Misdiagnosis Correction in Boca Raton

Many individuals receive psychiatric diagnoses earlier in life, and never question the accuracy despite years of unsuccessful treatment. Mental illnesses like substance abuse or personality disorders can obscure or complicate the presentation of other co-occurring mental health disorders, making an accurate evaluation difficult at times. At the practice of Raul J. Rodriguez, MD & Associates, we offer Misdiagnosis Correction Assessments to our clients, and have found that many of our clients have an incorrect prior diagnosis, as high as 80% with some mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder. Because an incorrect diagnosis typically results in treatment that is ineffective and even dangerous, we are vigilant in taking the necessary steps to verify that our clients are diagnosed correctly.

Misdiagnosed Mental Health Disorders

Depression:

Depressive disorders, like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), are some of the most frequent mental health disorders diagnosed today in America. An unintended by-product of their prevalence is that they are also some of the most misdiagnosed conditions psychiatrically. While clinical depression is a condition in and of itself, depression is also a symptom that results from other mental health problems. Mental illnesses that often present as clinical depression include Bipolar Disorder as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For patients who suffer from depression, but who do not have MDD, misdiagnosis correction is essential. Many of the medications used to treat depression by itself, can actually make other mental health conditions like Bipolar Disorder worse, which is why proper initial diagnosis or misdiagnosis correction is so important.

Borderline Personality Disorder:

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex personality disorder typified by unstable behavior and relationships. A number of the symptoms associated with BPD are also seen in other mental health disorders. These include things like poor self-image, low self-worth, and suicidal feelings or ideation. The end result is that BPD is often misdiagnosed as a mood disorder or as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are also external factors that can lead to misdiagnosis; BPD was at one time almost entirely diagnosed in females, but recent research has demonstrated that the condition is much more common for males than many mental health professionals realized. For someone suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, a correct mental health diagnosis is required for effective treatment. BPD treatment requires specialized clinical services to be treated correctly, usually involving Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Bipolar Disorder:

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness defined by dramatic mood swings between mania and depression, which is why is was previously referred to as manic-depression or manic-depressive disorder. There are multiple types of Bipolar Disorder, some that feature prolonged manic episodes, while others suffer from crippling depression with intermittent periods of hypomania. Depending on where an individual is during his or her mood cycling, Bipolar Disorder can often be mistaken for be Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Bipolar Disorder also happens to be one of the most over-diagnosed conditions in psychiatry. The lack of emotional regulation is also a characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder, causing the two disorders to be confused for one another. In addition, individuals struggling with addiction or suffering from Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) sometimes have symptoms that mimic Bipolar Disorder.

Receive a Misdiagnosis Correction Assessment: 561-250-7208

If you believe that you have a complicated mental health diagnosis, it is important to consult a professional specializing in that disorder or disorders. Clinical expertise is important, and being evaluated by an experienced clinician can help rectify the diagnostic process. At Raul J. Rodriguez, MD & Associates, our team of doctors and psychotherapists are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of the most complex mental health disorders, including PTSD, treatment-resistant OCD & depression, Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. We are also highly skilled in treating individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders, often referred to as dual diagnosis.

At Raul J. Rodriguez, MD & Associates, every one of our clients receives a comprehensive and extensive psychiatric evaluation by a licensed psychiatrist, before beginning any treatment or mental health services. When necessary, the collaborative depth of the entire multidisciplinary treatment team can be employed to develop an accurate diagnosis. This can include a consultation with both a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist, in order to get the right diagnosis for you. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, each client will receive an individualized treatment plan designed to address each client’s unique needs. An accurate diagnosis or misdiagnosis correction assessment is the foundation of our approach to client care and is one of the many reasons why our clients can expect long-term treatment success.