Colvin letter: Psychiatric diagnoses

Kevin Geraghty expressed so well in his guest opinion published in the Idaho Statesman on May 29, “Lets change focus to people not patients,” the risks one faces when seeking psychiatric treatment.

He writes about the medical records and diagnoses that follows the patient throughout his or her life. A psychiatric diagnosis can make the difference as to whether the patient can gain employment or even find housing.

My VA psychiatrist tagged me with a diagnosis that stayed in my medical record for 30 years even though two different psychiatrists in the community diagnosed me with major depression and anxiety.

Last year when I applied to live in an assisted living facility, I was denied admission because I was told that this facility’s attorney told the admission clerk not to admit anyone with a diagnosis like mine. When I told my family physician what happened he changed my psychiatric diagnosis to depression and anxiety in his history and physical examination, and I was admitted to my second choice of an assisted living facility. I have been happily living here for six months.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 12:32 AM with the headline "Colvin letter: Psychiatric diagnoses."