Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim

No.

I am already on ESA & PIP and have been for a year because I have been depressed, very anxious and have non epileptic attacks.

The psychiatrist diagnosed me with ADHD in 50 minutes on zoom and the focus was ADHD. HE DIDN’T let me explain that I because of my suicidal thoughts I haven’t been looking after myself in terms of self care, shower, wash, dress, eating.

I have explained my difficulties too him and he says depression & anxiety are common in ADHD. And I should continue using my local mental health services as they can’t treat general mental health care.

I haven’t asked him about PIP but ADHD isn’t on my claim forms. Yet anyway.

I’m still not convinced I have ADHD and was going to ask for a second opinion, but it seems to offend the psychiatrist asking for this.

I am pretty sure you can request to change psychiatrists.
There may also be an advocacy service that can help you with this.....
You could try phoning MIND to see if they have this information.

this is a tricky greyish area, and as the post above said I am pretty sure you can request to change psychiatrists.

Tread warily when dealing with CPN's and psychiatrists, until you have what you need.Changing psychiatrists is not something one should do without thinking about it, Unfortunately it is not so simple as seeing another GP.

Yes of course you can ask, remember you wont really know, or experience the backlash if any. It is subtle, let me blunt, You can be perceived as a troublemaker, this will never be told to you directly. Trust me.



To want to change would implies there is conflict or a problem between you and the psychiatrist, however it could be fine. i can tell you with certainty psychiatrists dont like being challenged, although no-one admits to this.
Basically it's your intuition, but if you are unlikely to get much help/support with your psychiatrist in terms of letters diagnosis etc then think of going privately yes it will cost a few hundred pounds, BUT will be cheaper than not having good supportive evidence in terms of psychiatrist letters/reviews etc etc.
Remember you don't have to use/submit any letter/report to DWP if its not in your favour.

I sense your frustration, just be careful,

The psychiatrist has accepted my difficulties and tells me depression & anxiety are common in ADHD - so he agrees.

My only issue was the fact I have self harming and suicidal thoughts and other symptoms of depression, which he failed to accept during the assessment.

I am within my rights to disagree though he does agree my symptoms have been present etc.

How do you mean be careful? Do you mean be careful in terms of challenging a psychiatrist or CPN?

Yes it is my right to do but unfortunately they won’t budge on the decision. Though they have sent me to a Psychiatric Liaison nurse who has done an assessment of my difficulties and now thinks I should have an autism assessment too.

I think this is the trouble with mental illness. I think your diagnosis can change a lot until they work out the root causes.

Either way, my GP accepts I have problems with my depression and anxiety. So that’s a relief even if the psychiatrist didn’t really listen to my difficulties in our 50 min zoom meeting.

Tbh there is so much history it would have been difficult to share it all in 50 minutes and especially when the focus was on ADHD.