Psychiatrist lying in report

[ChirpyPinkFox]

I recently had an assessment with a psychiatrist at the CMHT.
I have received a copy of the assessment report. Basically it's full of lies. She's just made things up, things I never said. I worry about the impact of this. Does anyone know how I can get this report dismissed so it isn't on my record? I feel utterly devasted after reading it. I was hopeful to get some help but not anymore.

What did she lie about?

Things that I struggle with and thoughts that I have. E.g. asking if I feel worthless and I said no. She has wrote that I said yes. She asked why I self medicate but she hasn't wrote this down, she's wrote something different which isn't applicable to me.

I think you should write back to her and go through her letter point by point,
Dear Dr 'Smith'
'I received your letter and am concerned there may have been a mix up of some sort? I attended your clinic on (date at time). You stated X but I actually said Y etc etc.
Yours sincerely
ChirpyPinkFox

Great, thank you

I know this isn't the point, but this is one of the reasons I've been so loathed to seek "official" help for my previous mental health struggles. I detest the fact it's all written down (wrongly sometimes, or misinterpreted) as per your case. I hate the fact all these details about your inner mind are there on a nice official screen at the drs , there to be accessed forever. It's so 'damning'. And even when your mental health is better - there that big old stain stays.

So in 5 years time anxiety free, go to GP "I think I'm might have a chest infection " gp: (looks at the past medical history : 'are you feeling anxious today at all? Sometimes when we're anxious, we can get all sorts of symptoms" . Reader : I did indeed have pneumonia and was hospitalised on intravenous antibiotics. (Rare attender at the GP surgery)

So... Back on point. I feel your frustration. I think they kind of 'get away ' with it too , because people with MH problems are less likely to be believed. I'd write to them and request corrections where you stipulate.

If you can possibly afford it - I'd consider a private psychiatrist.

Yes, absolutely, write in or phone and say there are inaccuracies in the report and you would like to request that the letter is amended and updated - specify all the incorrect information, or get them to phone you. They don't have to agree with you, but your letter should go on the record too, and if they agree to change the letter the old one should be retracted from the record, your GP etc.

I can relate to what you say, a lot. I was free from it for years. Now it's all back. They certainly do get away with it. I've never been believed previously. I will look into a private psychiatrist, thank you.

Agreed, I’d also say something like ‘I’m concerned that these may be somebody else’s notes and I’m concerned for confidentiality’ - that’ll shake them

Great, thank you.

I'm not sure on the purpose. I think it's negligence, they've perhaps misunderstood, not remembered what I've said so wrote anything.

Your best bet is most definitely finding your own preferably female psychiatrist! I don't understand what the aim is. Is it to understand your struggles? Is it to access medication? Something else? This would determine who I looked for privately.

I wouldn't even bother writing to this one. I've had multiple dealings with medical people who write the wrong thing.

It was to access medication.
I've had previous bad experiences with MH services but that was a lot of years ago. As a PP said similar, it is a stain that sticks.

Has it caused you issues when they have wrote the wrong thing? Have you just ignored it?

They won’t remove false notes from medical records, but they should add your amendments.

Patient reviews of our CMHT often comment medical records contain lies!

Yes it has been a nightmare at times. I've ended up paying alot to see the best ( based on my condition and what I needed ) and that would then over ride what the last idiot wrote!! I'd then ask the GP to highlight the latest letter which superceded the last tit. 😆

I'm sorry to everyone on MN that I always bang on about this. But....my first question OP is whether you feel you might be Neurodivergent. Because I feel so many MH conditions are diagnosed when this is sometimes the issue. That therefore means finding a psychiatrist who specialises in that at least if you can't afford to be assessed for it. 🙏❤️

I think recording all appointments with medical staff as a back up is wise after some of the “treatment” I have received. Then when they lie afterwards you have proof.

That happened to me ...they put down a wrong diagnosis I had never been diagnosed with or medicated for in my life. 😂 I get called in yearly due to it and they seem so baffled I don't take medication, apparently they can't change notes without a court order..so I'm stuck having checks for a condition that i never even saw a psychiatrist for or diagnosed with 😂
But I was told it happens a lot and the nurse doing my annual check said they had one lady down as diabetic who isn't once...

Gosh that sounds stressful. I don't think I would be able to do that.

Funny you should ask that. That's part of the problem. I was under MH services years ago. Then got autism diagnosis private. Now back to CMHT who won't acknowledge it and won't listen to what I say.

With regards to writing the wrong thing. I've had experience of this. I've had "stillbirth" documented after I'd been seen for a breast cyst !! (It's coding errors) I had a midwife tick the wrong box ... And just my luck.... (Someone who is already very wary of what's put on my records) The box they ticked 'post peural psychosis ' (at that time I was 8 weeks pregnant with my first child !!!!!! (I actually only found this out as I kept getting text messages stating I was entitled to free winter jabs etc ) I assumed it was because I work in healthcare. Obviously I didn't take them up on the offer as I had them at work ! So then comes the text upping the anty "our records show you haven't taken up your offer of a vaccination. Major mental health problems increase your risk... " Blah blah.

I emailed the practice manager in the end and was obviously like "since when is a history of depression and anxiety in the PAST a major/serious mental health problems entitling me to vaccines!!!" She was lovely actually and looked into it and concluded it was likely ticked in error . Problem is they can never remove entries - only put an addenum next to them ...

And you know deep down they probably think "yeh, whatever" when they look at the addendum. Mud sticks .

I thought it would have been recorded so they didn't make mistakes or forget or that they would have a system so they didn't write the wrong thing.

That's useful to know that they can't change the notes without a court order. It's bad that it can have such a big impact on someone's life.

I knew it OP. 😆My senses were triggered!

You NEED an ND aware psychiatrist! Can you afford this? They will be the best help ever here. Your ND status, which is correct, is potentially the basis of your MH struggles. You need someone who both understands this,can talk about medication, prescribe this too and then over ride what the last lazy mofo just did.

Have they given you BPD diagnosis yet? Because that's often the lazy fuck approached when refusing to acknowledge a lady is Autistic.

Look up the best you can find OP and pay. Once this is done,you have positive appropriate action agree that actually helps you and a letter and report. Then you can challenge the last ones report.

Laziness, gaslighting, they can do one. 😘

I believe some of them actively don't listen or give a shit. If they don't believe your autism diagnosis I'd never want to touch them again in terms of credibility, expertise, professionalism. I'd pay whatever I had to fund my own support here because their gaslighting and denial and incompetence are so incredibly damaging to your mental wellbeing.

Simple validation of your lived experience will itself be huge for you I believe.

I found a leading psychiatrist recently for my teen son. An expert in ND, able to understand,relate, validate and prescribe. The NHS MH services have been appalling and they're quite frankly god damn dangerous atm.

Edit to add - if you see another leading ND aware psychiatrist, they can second in some ways what the initial assessment said. So that's 2 separate professionals. They can prescribe. They can write to your GP. That letter can go to the CMHT. That letter can politely challenge what the last useless idiot said. You can then ask the GP to take on the long term prescription and support you in monitoring impact.

The CMHT are as much use as a pile of shit to you tbh if you can access this other way of help. They'll make you worse is my honest belief via their gaslighting, denial and now this letter. Appalling.

With tick boxes, it's very easy to tick the wrong box. With GPs they "code" entries from a drop down code box. It's ridiculously easy to pick the wrong "code". It actually really angers me that these mistakes cannot be removed. I pay the price for their fuck ups. Some flimsy addendum that nobody will probably take any notice of or believe. But yes, errors definitely get made on people's notes, more often than we realise.