ptsd Mental Health Intake

[donews]

I grabbed the most recent medical records when I was at the VAMC today.

It contained the information from my mental health intake consult (even tho the roi person said I was not allowed to have my metal health records with prior doctors consent.)

It has a section for diagnosis and reads as follows:

Axis I: Major Depression, r/o Depression secondary to dementia

Axis II: deferred

Axis III: see list above

Axis IV: no psychosocial stressors at this time

Axis V: 49-51

Does any of this make sense to anyone?

If so please help me understand.

She also stated somewhere in there that further evaluation was waranted to decided if I had a PTSD.

I had another appointment with a Mental Health since then, but those records were not included in this packet.

[john999]

Did you have some kind of head injury. Dementia is usually based on some physical cause. Are you a younger or older person.

[Dale Jr. 8]

I know axis V is your GAF score. Axis III is your medical problems. Axis IV is anything that aggrivates your depression. I am not sure about Axis II DJ8

[donews]

Did you have some kind of head injury. Dementia is usually based on some physical cause. Are you a younger or older person.

John999,

I just re-read the notes from the intake and there is a section that says "Review of symptoms" it is marked:

Head Trauma (LOC): yes in vietnam

Cognative Deficits: ST memory problem - significant ST memory loss

Anxiety: denied

Depressive Symptoms:

Sleep: Impaired

Appetite: has no appetite

Impaired Concentration: yes

Impaired Motivation/Activity Level: yes

Depressed/Sad Mood/Ect: feels helpless, hopeless, crying spells twice per day

HX of mood swings/manic episodes: none

HX of Anorexic/Bulimic: none

Trauma History (Adult): Vietnam Combat Vet 2 Tours - does have nightmares about it.

I only can assume she is listing the Head Trauma from when I was blown off a bunker in Nam. I still don't understand the dementia thingy.

This intake assesment is totally different from what the C&P mental health lady said in 06. I will dig it out and see what it says.

Also I am sure this assesment is different that the one from the person that this lady refered me to.

[Berta]

"I only can assume she is listing the Head Trauma from when I was blown off a bunker in Nam. I still don't understand the dementia thingy"

The dementia or even dementia type symptoms that arent dementia at all could be due to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that also could cause memory impairment, headaches-many other problems-

TBI- there has been discussion here a lot lately and in the news-on TBI-and last night I spoke to Dr Jose Cohen (SVR radio) who runs Operation Comfort as to how the VA is classifying new vets with PDs (none compensable)instead or looking for TBI - a direct service connectable disability.

Then again PTSD can cause memory problems,sadness,anxiety, depression, anger -you name it-

it looks to me as tnhough this doctor is attempting to fully and properly assess you.

Dementia -that appears in my husband's records too-along with 15 or 20 erroneous other diagnoses-

they said it was from his multiple strokes-but said he was still competent.

My husband said before his death that the VA itself could render anyone with a working brain -as demented-and then string out their claim with continuous denials to make SURE they get demented.He liked being "demented"-he said this made him a poster child for VA incompetenece (he never lived long enough to know how right he was)

So dont let the "dementia" part bother you-it can help your claim.

[donews]

Ok here goes the information from the C&P exam that was done in 06:

USUAL OCCUPATION: was repairing vending machines

IS VETERAN CURRENTLY EMPLOYED: No

IS VETERAN RETIRED: Yes DATE OF RETIREMENT: 7/2003 CAUSE(S) OF RETIREMENT:

Medical (physical problem) MEDICAL/PHYSICAL PROBLEMS: medical (passing out spells)

AXIS I: Depressive Disorder NOS

AXIS II: none

AXIS III: mutiple

AXIS IV: multiple health, death of wife

AXIS V: GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONING (GAF)

GAF SCORE: 52

EACH MENTAL DISORDER DIAGNOSIS MEETS THE DSM-IV DAGNOSTIC CRITERIA: Yes

ARE THE FINDINGS TO SUPPORT EACH DIAGNOSIS REPORTED ON THE EXAM: Yes

The above is a cut and paste of part of the C&P mental health exam.

She also stated later in her assesment that no opinion was requested of her.

I am waiting for them to mail me the recrods of my apointment with the actual Mental Health counselor. I have a reg mental health counselor (i dont know here official title) and I also have an appointment with a psychiatrist next month.

[tssnave]

What, exactly, does "deferred" mean in Axis II? I hope they are not evaluating him for a PD.

It looks to me like the VA didn't think he had a PD in 2006 (Axis II none) but now they have "deferred" it.

Can anyone clarify what the "deferred" means on Axis II?

Thanks,

TS Snave