Posted by Dinah on July 19, 2005, at 19:42:44
In reply to confused and upset, posted by Panz on July 19, 2005, at 18:58:28
No multiple choice test can diagnose a person. That's why they have psychologists give them. He probably sent it off to one of those computerized answering services, but the final call on diagnosis is his, assuming he gave you the test and is qualified to do so.
That being said, the difference isn't all that huge, is it? I'm not sure of my ground here, but schizo-affective means a mood disorder with some loss of reality. And borderline personality disorder certainly involves mood disturbances, and by definition can include occasionally poor reality testing under stress.
So as I understand it, it would be easy enough for a multiple choice test to come back with some suggestions, but a clinician would be needed to apply to them to each patient.
If you have a qualified clinician, I'd listen to him.
Does the possibility of schizoaffective distress you? Those names can sound a lot scarier than the actual reality. One clinician diagnosed me with schizotypal personality disorder, and my therapist sort of agrees. Other clinicians roundly criticize that diagnosis for me. It's scary to have schizo-anything mentioned in connection with yourself, but I think it's not necessarily as bad as it sounds.
poster:Dinah
thread:530270
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050716/msgs/530291.html