Neuropsychiatric Examination

[Rockhound]

I finally got my Psychiatrist to schedule a neuropsychiatric exam for me. It concerns a TBI I recieved while in the service that included a period of unconciousness and a concussion. I have been for years trying to see if their may been some lasting effects and whether or not the problems I have been having since with an adjustment disorder with anxiety and a ongoing chronic depressive disorder.

It's been many years since I remember having my first and I believe only neuropsychiatric exam and wonder what all goes on in one and if their is anything I should be aware of so I don't end up shooting myself in the foot, sort of speak.

Rockhound

[Berta]

VA can separate organic brain trauma such as TBI from anxiety,depression or PTSD. It can often take many tests. The VA gave my husband 6 or 7 tests to separate his residuals from a 1151 stroke (brain trauma/injury) from his PTSD.These were tests administered by a psychiatrist.They took 2 days to complete.

The Neurologists can interpret an MRI of the brain in order to see if there is trauma and also what area of the brain it affects and this can support symptoms of residuals.

The residuals you have from the TBI can be rated and service connected if due to your military service.

[Rockhound]

Thanks for the info Berta.

For the past 30 plus years I have been fighting a loosing battle trying to get an acute schizofrenic episode recongnized as SC and to get the personality disorder diagnosis they changed it to corrected.

My Psychiatrist made a compeling argument that a claim for TBI with my current problems with an adjustment disorder and anxiety and chronic depression disorder would be a better and easier claim to prove and also it could explain why a personality disorder was not diagnosed during active service, but was diagnosed shortly after the TBI incident and why nothing since that time shows any signs of a personality disorder either.

She also hinted but would not make any notes in my medical charts, that the adjustment disorder and anxiety and chronic depression could very well be residual effects of the TBI and I would benefit from a indepth neuropsychiatric evailuation and further tests to completely rule out any possible personality disorder of the type they said I had.

I only hope my exam and test results don't come back so messed up that the results say I need someone to take care of me.

Rockhound

[john999]

I know for a fact that TBI can cause some drastic personality changes. My Father-in-Law had a TBI and he really was never the same and got into trouble because of his behavior. The main thing it did was make it more difficult to control his impulses. So society would say he had a personality disorder when,in fact, it was due to the TBI. If you had no PD prior to TBI and had behavior changes after the TBI that would make some kind of a case for SC. A doctor has to say it. They won't just accept it from the vet.

[Berta]

John-I think undiagnosed TBI is the reason the VA was pulling the Personality Disorder bull crap in newly returning combat veterans-

The VA is however learning much more about TBI.(I think)

Edited April 24, 2008 by Berta

[Billyboy]

I went to Palo Alto medical center in California for TBI testing. I had two days of tests. Once a lady came to get me for a test and took of like she was running a race, I let her go till she was out of sight, she finally slowed down. Set your comfortable pace, tell them to slow down if you cannot walk that fast. Among others I saw an eye doctor, she explained to me why I have a hard time reading. For some reason (TBI) when I looked from right to left my eyes track fine but from left to right my eyes would stop right in the middle then move on, she told what the name is???? Caused by TBI. In secession with the shrink I had to start at the beginning of a maze, take a pencil and draw my way out, she told me do not LIFT the pencil, two out of three mazes I lifted the pencil. (TBI) This person showed me a picture of stock of celery, I could even think of its name. She said C CEL CELER and finally I said celery. (TBI) She also told me this was a test and I received points, I didn’t get many points for the word celery. The therapist had me stand on one foot, not too much of a problem for either foot BUT when I closed my eyes I could only do it for about two seconds. (TBI) After the two days my report showed, in their words, I had 16 of the 17 symptoms of PTSD. Good luck with your test. bill

[cowgirl]

Berta, so from what you describe here, that if a person incurred a concussion or head injury ins ervice years ago, a neurologist can determine the residual details 'today' even? I had planned on seeing a nerologist for something totally different. thanks for the heads up, cg

VA can separate organic brain trauma such as TBI from anxiety,depression or PTSD. It can often take many tests. The VA gave my husband 6 or 7 tests to separate his residuals from a 1151 stroke (brain trauma/injury) from his PTSD.These were tests administered by a psychiatrist.They took 2 days to complete.

The Neurologists can interpret an MRI of the brain in order to see if there is trauma and also what area of the brain it affects and this can support symptoms of residuals.

The residuals you have from the TBI can be rated and service connected if due to your military service.