Seen a psychiatrist today

[liverLadyLass]

It was due to a car crash, they seem to think I've been mentally affected by it and is fighting a claim on my behalf,, but when speaking to him (the psychiatrist) he'd ask about my childhood? Was it a happy one?? I couldn't understand why he was asking all this and had just said it was ok,, he asked why? Why was it just ok? I had said I didn't feel comfortable talking about my childhood as I felt the car crash had nothing to do with my childhood, he had said I didn't need to tell him but if he knew it would help him to fight my case as they might use this against me?? Wtf? I was so angry,, and shocked, I was sexually and emotionally abused in my childhood by my step father, what on earth did this have to do with a car crash that happened over two years ago?? He then went on to ask about if mental problems were common in my family?? And if all my siblings were happy and healthy?? I answered I'd only two left and I was the youngest, he'd asked what happened to my eldest, and again he'd said this was so they couldn't hold this against me?! So I told him that he had killed himself?? Again I was so angry and had to hold bk the tears as this strange man I met know knew all this personal stuff about my childhood, he also said that it would not be confidential??? I felt this was handled so cold and insensitive like I was being asked what I'd had for my dinner the day before??

Gosh what an upsetting experience (the psych appt and the car crash). I'm not surprised at feeling a bit wtf about the questioning. He could have handled it much, much better. I don't understand why it would not be confidential though - I guess you were probably too stunned to ask why not? But in terms of him saying that your childhood/family history might be used against you I'm thinking perhaps he's worried that the other sides "experts" may try to claim that you can't prove you are mentally affected by the crash and that even without the crash occuring you may have experienced similar due to earlier abuse and sibling killing himself . That's all I can think of but I'm only guessing. Maybe when you're feeling less upset you could contact psych and ask him to explain himself and also how he intends to mitigate/counter attack given that he now knows the information.

Who is fighting this claim on your behalf? A proper solicitor or a high street ambulance chaser?

It sounds like a standard one hour psychiatric assessment that the Courts are not keen on at all. Case law holds that a psychiatric diagnosis can only be made by the patient's own medical professional who would normally have to see the patient more than once.

You don't have to go ahead with this you know. The relatively small payout in cases like this may not be worth the other party grilling you about your history and trying to prove that your abusive childhood has turned you into a chronic attention seeker!

The report is not confidential as it needs to be disclosed to all parties in the dispute.

irishbird is totally right there and I expressed myself incredibly badly for a lawyer, sorry. What I meant is that if you want to press ahead in the case on the basis of your psychological damage a professional report is essential.

That was what was done, I had a report done and was sent by my solicitor, also a medical. Just shocked how people may use a very sensitive part of your life and use it as a lie against you, if that makes sense??

yeah its toss. My uncle was crashed into by someone driving the wrong way up a one way street. He had PTSD as a result and had to endure ridiculous psych assessments by insurance companies trying to undermine the damage by revealing other mh issues. I'm not sure of the details but I think it was the other side that were commissioning them. Irishbirds advice sounds very good.

Its standard to ask those questions.
The interview is not confidential because it is for the purpose of giving information to the court.
What do you mean by people using a sensative part of your life to lie against you?

Thank you all very much I'm not taking it as a slap in the face as to what she did, as my kids were also in the car, my thoughts were how could they? Even when there is kids involved they still try to wingle there way out.. I'm looking forward to seeing my psyc report...

This isnt a sign of them trying to get out of paying you anything if that is what you are worrying about.
The psychiatrist that you saw has been instructed by your legal team to provide an independent report.

It is absolutely normal for a psychiatrist to ask those questions. If they didnt ask about your childhood they would not have done a proper assessment.