Hi,
I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder, schizotypal personality personality, and bulimia/binge purge eating disorder. Not exactly a simple case lol. I was absolutely petrified at the assessment, and for the first part of it we just talked about the treatment I had previously had and what had lead to me having that. They knew I was a self harmer and had OD before as that was all in a letter sent by my GP to Occ Health (really thanked them for that one). So they asled about my triggers etc. He then did the SCID-II interview which is a long series of questions which helps them determine the disorders.
The whole assessment took about 1 and half hours. He reccomended to the Occupational Health department hat I had specific treatment tailored at BPD and he said the SPD would go with this as well. The treatment they recommend for BPD is Mentalisation based therapy or dialectal behaviour therapy. And he also recommended that this should be undertaken at a specialist unit not generic mental health services.
Not all areas have specific services targeted at Personality disorders, and if they do there are often long waiting lists. My referal process was complicated by occ health involvement, my change of address between first and 2nd years, which subsequently meant that my GP records got misplaced between surgeries!
Once I was seen at the unit there was guarantee that they would treat me, it was a comitment by me and wether they felt they could help. I ended up having 3 assessment appts at the unit. And I was also seen by the generic CMHT consultant psychiatrist as she apparently will be overall responsible for my care. And she said that I may have a care co-ordinated as I am a complicated case.
I have learnt I have to be honest, or I wont get better and they wont trust me, meaning they are more likely to revoke their decission to let me stay on the course. For me the Unit wasnt right and they decided to refer me to the Eating disorder team.
They are their to help and they will support you. Do not lie it will make the whole situation worse trust me. and as wanna be health care professionals we should know we should lie about. I wont lie its hard but worth it in the end.
My childhood was very mixed, and not something I want to write more about on an open board.
I hope that info is helpful to you.
Do not give in.
If you need any more info then ask.
let us know how you get on
N