What is this diagnosis? 296.89?!


Question:

What is this diagnosis? 296.89?

I have always been diagnosed with Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder, which I believe is 296.3_.

My current diagnosis, I just received today however, is this different number! What is it?


Answers:

The ICD-9 is the medical coding system and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association is what most mental health agencies use. The coding is the same, usually.

The important thing to know it that many things go into making a diagnosis and sometimes you may get slightly different ones depending on the person who sees you. The Psychiatric is the best person to make the most accurate diagnosis, but even then if you see two different ones they might not agree.

To make an accurate diagnosis one must look at all factors affecting the person. Their family history, childhood history, any physical or mental traumas, current life situations, and current stress level, mental ability, and physical health. A major depressive disorder can be treated, sometimes without medication. I once had Major Depression, and I didn't take any medication. I have 7 years of very in-depth therapy with a PHD Psychologist and got to a point where I would never again have that type of deep depression. I get depressed as anyone would over life events, but never have I had that suicidal type of hopeless dark hole feeling. I did a lot of healing of the inner child work and it changed my life.

If you do have Bi-Polar disorder, that is a different story. That is not caused by childhood trauma or life events. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain and does run in families. The good news is that now days they have good medications that can help you live a normal life. It is important to get the right medication and the right dose. So work with your doctor and tell him the truth about how you feel on the meds, etc. so that he can get you on the one that is best for you. These type of medications are different than most that a doctor would give you for some other disease. Usually the medication and dose is the same for every adult in most diseases of the body, but not in psychiatry. So don't just do whatever your doctors say without question, work as a team. I wish you the best.




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