Diagnosis: Neuropsychiatric Eval., or what?

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I'm 27, self-suspected, and looking to get an evaluation.

Within about 100 miles of me, I've so far located a couple children's autism centers that also offer evaluation for adults. Additionally, there's an Asperger's - specific center which offers evaluation for adults. These places have given me the same pitch: we'll sit down and figure out what tests would suit you.

Alternatively, I've found a place that offers what would apparently be a more generalized "neuropsychiatric evaluation". However, they are a research center which is more preoccupied with schizophrenia than anything else. Pediatric autism is lower on their list, and adult pdd below that.

To paraphrase someone in the self-diagnosis thread, if someone suspects they have AS, they probably have *something*.

I certainly have a lot of signs/symptoms of Asperger's. They have interrupted my life, and I need to learn how to cope with them as best I can, or treat them if possible. (I am currently undergoing therapy for depression, anxiety, and am in a recovery group for addiction. If pdd is the basis or a contributing factor to these things, my therapist and I would like to know!) (EDIT-- I'm not basing my AS-suspicion on these three things alone! )

However, I'm not convinced AS is what I have. I'd give it an unprofessional and arbitrary 75% chance.

So, in your unprofessional opinions, Planeteers, do I go for an Asperger's/Autism evaluation, or go for the more generalized neuropsychiatric evaluation?

Also: could anyone in the southern New England / NYC / NJ / eastern PA area recommend an evaluationist (or evaluationista)?

Thanks in advance!

The more generalized neuropsychiatric evaluation is likely going to be a battery that includes the tests of the other places as a subset. No matter what you do, it is likely to be informative, and you will have immediate access to people that should be qualified to respond to any questions you have about what results mean. If you feel a diagnosis in a proffessional setting will answer questions, the important part is that you pursue what you feel will be helpful and actually get the diagnosis. If you are unsatisfied by your first experience, you can always pursue a second, third, fourth method.

It is important to keep in mind that proffessionals are people first. They are fallible, they miss things, they aren't always aware of the latest findings. Something is troubling you. You are pursuing ways to change that. That is all you can ask of your self.

Thanks, Crassus. That was really informative, encouraging, and reassuring!

I guess the only problem with pursuing multiple methods/evaluations is that they cost a big chunk of change each time, and are likely not covered by my insurance plan, so I'm a little paranoid about choosing the right method the first time around. . .

I think what I need is to keep a little faith that no matter which venue I choose, the people I'll be dealing with are going to try and help me out with the things that are troubling me in some way.

Whatever you do, I'll be here to discuss if you have remaining things you feel you want to discuss. I can understand the monetary concern. It is part of why it is important to think carefully about what you expect to get out of the process. Since you are already pursuing a treatment path for other issues and are looking for a more complete understanding of another possible factor, the more complete exam would seem to make sense. It also is likely to be more expensive by simple virtue of it being a larger more complete set that requires more time to go through.

If you are thinking it is a 75% chance you are AS and 25% you just have the already identified things, options A and B seem adequate. If you think that 25% contains a chance of a positive diagnosis of something else, maybe even related (OCD for example) then Option C has a strong case.