I'm new here and suspected of having a depressive personality disorder

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

Hello,

I'm new to this section and a bit nervous but told you are all lovely.

I am suspected of having a depressive personality disorder by the GP I went to to get tested for thyroid function.

I don't much like hearing any one of those words applied to me.

There is nothing wrong with my personality. I don't have a disorder. I might be a bit depressed but that's about all I reckon I could cope with.

Any advice?

Hi Starlight just saying hello and well done posting on here :)

I didn't know there was such a thing. Did dr say you were dysthymic?

oooh, no, but online dysthymic and DPD seem to be related/comorbid or whatever on the 3 mins research I have done.

Is that bad?

Hello madmouse, thanks for inviting me over here.

What are they going to do to me?

I don't know, hopefully send you to someone who is actually qualified to make that diagnosis? Until it is confirmed by a psychiatrist I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

Did GP propose any sort of treatment?

No. Blood tests to rule out thyroid.

The thing is, I REALLY don't want 'personality disorder' on my records as I have been and am planning to spend a lot of time in court fighting for my ds' rights. I know they will use it against me. They have stooped as low before.

Depending on your circumstances and illness its an unlikey diagnosis. Depressive disorder is common or depressive episodes? or even Dysthymia.

A Psychiatrist is best placed to diagnose and they do that after assessment and response to treatment.

Maybe your GP miscommunicated what they wanted to say properply.

I suffer from bouts of depression and anti-depressants don't seem to be lifting my latest bout. My GP said that some people just have personality-types that are more susceptible to depression than others. Not very helpful advise but maybe that is what your GP meant too rather than you having an actual 'disorder'.

Thank you Faff, yes I do remember she kept going on about bouts.

You know what is wierd? I thought I was quite chirpy in her office.

BUT, My hair was greasy. The first time I've ever seen a GP with greasy hair. Is that what made the difference? Does it look like self-neglect or something?

I wouldn't go as far as saying self-neglect. They do say some people with depression stop taking care of themselves so much. When I go out in public I still make an effort but I've stopped taking care of myself in other ways.

GPs are trained in spotting signs of depression - whilst you may think you were chirpy you could have been unaware that you were not making eye contact, for example, or being figidity.

When I saw my GP in Sept, I actually made the appt about something else but spent 10 minutes crying my eyes out in her office and not being able to explain why. Not like me at all. I was mortified after!

Hmm, but I'm no more depressed than I was 15 year ago though, at least I don't think I am, and no GP ever raised it then.

My DH is currently sitting next to me reading on his laptop all about depressive personality disorder........so I guess he must think it is at least a possibility.

What do you think? Did you feel any recognition when you read about it?

No. It doesn't sound like me at all. I am good at problem solving and adapting. In fact it is what I do best. I always have a way out and a plan B and I have fairly high esteem in that regard.

I'm just always so damn tired and short-tempered with it and freezing.

Although, OPCD looks a bit familiar, but with some fairly broad poetic license.

These things are a bit like horoscopes though, you can make most descriptions fit most people at least some of the time. Depressive must be the most boring personality disorder to have, apart from maybe that avoidant one.

Anyway am pretty sure a GP is not qualified to diagnose such a thing, is it even in current ICD/DSM?

No. It seems that it is being considered for the next one.

Oh god, even my disorder is boring now. There's no hope, it's all a disaster...........

Hi - I would not have thought a Gp would be so expert in mental health to diagonse someone, and only a psychiatrist can officially diagnose and from what I know it can take ages on the nhs to see one no mind about get a diagnosis - so if you are concerned about that, it may help!

Also I not heard of this disorder, it is currently not in the DSM (though may go back in the DSM V when out) and I looked in the ICD (the European as opposed to the American DSM manual) and it is not there - rather it can only be put under "other personality disorders, not specified" - so I would personally have thought a depressive disorder such as Recurrent Depressive Disorder or Dsythmia --- but feel free to totally ignore all I write, I am not a medic! However, many psychiatrists look at treating symptoms not lablelling, so hope you find help and answers rather than incorrect labelling from a dr not qualified to do so (a gp).

No Keziah you are right, it was in DSM II I think and then it was taken out as controversial. I said this to starlight in her thread in chat, both that it doesn't officially exist and that a gp is not in the position to diagnose

Yeah, that sounds sooo like me. Dx by someone not qualified with something that doesn't exist!

Story of my life.....

In your circumstances I would keep a very wide berth from people trying to diagnose you with such nebulous disorders.

You are right to be suspicious.

However from your posts it seems you often actively seek support/respite from 'the authorities' and if you do accept it or seek it, you have to understand the flipside of that is exposing your private life to scrutiny by all and sundry.

I personally am with Ronald Reagan and his assertion that the scariest words in the English language are

'I'm from the govt. and I'm here to help you'.

I would sooner saw off my right leg thant seek 'support' from 'outside agencies'.

Yes *Moondog It was why I was trying to find out about it on here. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. It was supposed to be an appointment to look at my thyroid functioning as I've got pretty sluggish since I stopped feeding dd 2 months ago. I thought I had something hormonal going on.

They lost my bloods and I think the GP felt she had to do something useful with the appointment so started to ask more about the symptoms etc which is where she came up with her suggested dx.

Anyway. Getting bloods redone tomorrow so we'll see.

Be very very careful.
Truly.

Good you go back to another GP in the practice when you go to discuss the results of hte new tests?

LOL, She's the best GP I've ever had (except for the one that is in prison for sexual assult )