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Bipolar Disorder/Bipolar II afective mood disorder
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Question
I would like to ask for your opinion on a medical procedure. Three professional opinions have been made based on psychiatry exam. Two of them found that the patient (myself) has bipolar II affective mood disorder. The third one disagreed saying that the patient shows no signs of bipolar II affective mood disorder.
Due to the disagreements a fourth opinion has been made.
However the fourth opinion was based only on the previous three opinions and not on an exam and it says that the patient does not have bipolar II affective mood disorder.
I am most concerned about the fourth opinion and it’s method.
Would you please be so kind and tell me what you think ?
How accurate can the fourth opinion like this one be ?
Can it be accepted as a professional opinion at all ( since there was no exam ) ?
According to the Bipolar II expert(s) and you what is the generally accepted principle for this type of cases?
Thank you for your time and I appreciate your help!
Well, you have four opinions, with the verdict being split down the middle giving two on each side - one side says that you are bipolar, the other says you're not. I do want to ask you what the 'psychiatry exams' that three of the doctors gave you entailed, since (outside the area of research and studies being conducted by scientist-doctor teams for the purpose of gathering information on the condition or for its treatment)the usual process by which a doctor determines whether a diagnosis should be given and what diagnosis it is, involves a series of questions, using the answers to come to some conclusion. I have stated in other questions that there are times when a doctor can be influenced or biased when they are given the information regarding previous diagnosis' made by their peers. The real question is, why did you seek a second, third and fourth opinion for? While I can understand the second opinion, because sometimes, difficult news is not easy to accept, and therefore one may feel the need to 'double-check' with another physician, but, when the second one told you the same thing as the first, what led you to seek two more? I'm not sure what you're asking besides whether or not you can trust the method by which the fourth doctor concluded that you did not have bipolar disorder, because it was not an 'exam', but in general, there is no real exam - it's more like a question and answer session, so if that was what took place, then yes, you can probably trust the fourth opinion. But if you'd rather, and it's an option, you can always see if any medication treatment given by the earlier doctors makes you feel better, and if it does, I think you can safely say which doctor was right.
Let me know if I can help you with anything else.
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Answers by Expert:
Jennifer
Expertise
I am available to answer questions of a general nature about bipolar disorder, provide online resources that address bipolar disorder in a more in-depth manner and sources to serve as a starting point for those looking for substantial information on the illness from a healthcare professional approach. I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist, my background is based in personal experience and extensive reading in my own process of understanding my diagnosis. I can also take questions that deal with the social issues surrounding bipolar disorder such as relationships; coping for family, friends, and the patient; marriage, choosing to start a family and related. Answers to questions of a legal nature will provide general information but anyone with a serious legal problem should consult an attorney licensed to practice in their jurisdiction.
Experience
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type II in 2000; as a SSI beneficiary, have experience and knowledge of the limitations and processes involved with the program; I understand the moods, the feelings, the worries, the doubts, and a lot more that there's not enough room to express - from the personal experiences of being bipolar. I have first-hand experience with the challenges of returning to college following hospitalizations and various combinations of medications that were tried before my doctor and I finally arrived at the most effective medication program for my treatment. My family and I have learned so much about each other in the process of dealing with the highs and lows that followed my diagnosis. I've had relationships with someone who also is bipolar and someone that is not - romantic relationships are no easier on either side! I feel that many of the ideas and beliefs that people have regarding bipolar disorder and those who have the condition promote the continuation of social stigmas associated with mental illness in general, and after learning from others with bipolar disorder, hope to guide others who may be trying to navigate the government health care system,& share information on other possible means of obtaining assistance with the cost of medications and/or mental health services and limited financial assistance programs for meeting basic living expenses for qualified individuals, dealing with problems from or with family & loved ones, co-occurring substance abuse problems, medications and side-effects (and when it feels like nothing will work, or why it's not helping the situation to ask whether or not a patient has taken their 'meds' when they seem hostile or moody to those around them).
Education/Credentials
I have a B.A. in Liberal Arts and will earn my J.D. upon completion of the Spring 2011 term after which I will be preparing to take the multi-state bar exam.
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