Diagnostic Evaluations

Many people are confused about their diagnosis. Is it Depression, Bipolar, Manic-Depressive, OCD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder or something else? You may ask yourself why different clinicians tell you different things.

Although our diagnostic system is far from perfect, it is important to abide by the current system in order to diagnose your condition and choose a treatment plan. A misdiagnosis could lead to inadequate or even harmful treatment. For example, it is common for individuals with OCD to be misdiagnosed with Major Depression and simply given antidepressants. The clinician can unwittingly do harm in telling a person to "distract" themselves from their OCD thoughts or to increase their safety behaviors. This is exactly what we encourage them NOT to do! 

As a Psy.D. clincian, I have been thoroughly trained in the currently accepted DSM-IV model of diagnostics and psychometric testing. I will use all of the information available in order to determine the most accurate diagnosis possible. You may wish to make a visit simply to clarify your current diagnosis or you may be starting from the beginning. It is important to be clear about your condition. As you know, peace of mind is invaluable.