Psychiatrist won't diagnose son until we pay for psych.test

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Our son is 15 and has an AS diagnosis. About 2 years ago he began to have many angry outbursts a day, mostly when we tried to limit his computer time. He has OCD behavior and has also insisted that I, his mom, wipe him after he uses the bathroom. This causes many fights and he has put a number of holes in the bathroom wall over the past year. When we wereon our former health plan, he would not see the psychiatrist, saying that he didn't like her. Now that we are on a different health plan, with more choice as to mental health professionals, we thought we could get a diagnosis soon. But the psychiatrist we went to last week has insisted that we have to have our son tested by a third party--and only the person he has chosen. The tests are covered by our insurance but the report this person will write is not. It will cost us about $2000. Even though we have explained to him that we do not have that kind of money, he just keeps saying that we can't "go forward" until we get the tests done.

My questions are--could the angry outbursts just bepart of the AS? If not, why can't he diagnose my son based on his interviews with him and our information about him? Has anyone else had this kind of experience? I thought that psychiatrists had more expertise. At the last session he just talked to him for aout 5 minutes and said, "you have a very nice son." and repeated that we need to get the testing done. He nver even takes notes. What is the deal?? This does not sound right.

Your options are:

1. Find another psychiatrist.

2. Find the means to pay for the tests.

3. Diagnose your son yourself.

4. Seek a diagnosis from a non-psychiatrist.

5. Ignore your son's issues.

Which will you choose?

could the angry outbursts just be part of the AS?
-Not sure, but rage does seem to go with the spectrum a lot of the time.

If not, why can't he diagnose my son based on his interviews with him and our information about him?
-Greed, they want your money.

Has anyone else had this kind of experience?
-Yes... I had this happen to me a few months ago. My general therapist(only has a Master's) couldn't "officially" diagnose me for disabilities( have Autism and PTSD) So they sent me to a different therapist with a PhD, well the office they worked for scheduled me with someone else and did the same $2000 test crap. Went back to my general therapist and said that they where full of crap, so she sent me to a psychiatric ARNP(Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner). After three visits I got my diagnoses.

I thought that psychiatrists had more expertise. At the last session he just talked to him for about 5 minutes and said, "you have a very nice son." and repeated that we need to get the testing done. He never even takes notes. What is the deal?? This does not sound right.
- For profit medical is the bane of our country.

I would call around to different places and find someone willing to do it on visits. Looking for a psychiatric nurse practitioner in your area might be your best bet. Hope this helps, sucks when the people you go to for help f***s with you.

If you son has a diagnosis then what is this test for?

I don't know why the psychiatrist insists on this testing. Most of the people I've been seen by do their own testing however occasionally testing was done by people who specialize in doing testing.

Regardless though, it sounds to me as if you are not comfortable with this psychiatrist and that is enough reason to find another one.

Concerning the out bursts when trying to limit his computer time, yes, that would be rather typical for a child or teenager with AS.

As for wiping him, you should have stopped doing that by the time he was 5 or 6, and that's being very generous with the age limit. Children with AS frequently frequently need to be pushed towards independence in these things more than other children because they don't like change.

Why on Earth would you perform such a task for him for so long?