Disproving OCD diagnosis

A

Anon

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Does anyone know what sort of testing or procedures would be required to “unring that bell” of OCD in the eyes of the FAA.
 
You can't "disprove" this. The medical observations by qualified healthcare professionals are what they are. You can only get a cukrrent status from a psychiatrist known to the FAA.

FAA very much dislikes OCD (on "axis 1"). It tolerates OCD personality level (on "Axis 2"). Basically these anxiety related disorders can interfere with prompt, apporpriate, aeronautical decision making....even if not on meds.
 
bbchien said:
You can't "disprove" this. The medical observations by qualified healthcare professionals are what they are. You can only get a cukrrent status from a psychiatrist known to the FAA.

FAA very much dislikes OCD (on "axis 1"). It tolerates OCD personality level (on "Axis 2"). Basically these anxiety related disorders can interfere with prompt, apporpriate, aeronautical decision making....even if not on meds.
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Wondering this too. So if one has an OCD diagnosis on their medical record (mine personally says OCD, unspecified, insurance code F429), is getting a 3rd class medical basically impossible? Or could they spend money and do lots of tests and stuff?
 
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I ask because while I think I can be “obsessive” and my obsessions did at one point cause me distress, I’m not sure I “fit the bill” in every other category of OCD. I discovered that intrusive thoughts are a symptom of OCD. (It wasn’t until recently I discovered intrusive thoughts are a common symptom and people who wouldn’t even be diagnosed with a mental health condition experience them). OCD sufferers experience these thoughts on a heightened scale, accompanied by compulsions.

My thought is that I saw the symptoms I had as OCD, immediately went to an OCD Specialist, told them I was having symptoms of OCD, and voila…walked out with a diagnosis of OCD.
 
Anon said:
OCD sufferers experience these thoughts on a heightened scale, accompanied by compulsions.

My thought is that I saw the symptoms I had as OCD, immediately went to an OCD Specialist, told them I was having symptoms of OCD, and voila…walked out with a diagnosis of OCD.
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There’s also Pure O OCD where people have the obsessive intrusive thoughts, but no external signs of compulsions.
 
Anon said:
I ask because while I think I can be “obsessive” and my obsessions did at one point cause me distress, I’m not sure I “fit the bill” in every other category of OCD. I discovered that intrusive thoughts are a symptom of OCD. (It wasn’t until recently I discovered intrusive thoughts are a common symptom and people who wouldn’t even be diagnosed with a mental health condition experience them). OCD sufferers experience these thoughts on a heightened scale, accompanied by compulsions.

My thought is that I saw the symptoms I had as OCD, immediately went to an OCD Specialist, told them I was having symptoms of OCD, and voila…walked out with a diagnosis of OCD.
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The acknowledged authority as to your true diagnosis would not be an "OCD Center of Los Angeles". It would be a HIMS psychiatrist....
 
bbchien said:
The acknowledged authority as to your true diagnosis would not be an "OCD Center of Los Angeles". It would be a HIMS psychiatrist....
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I see. Would it be at all accurate to suggest that no matter what ailment you’ve been treated for, (so long as it isn’t an outright disqualifier) issuance of your certficate largely comes down to what the HIMS Psychiatrist has to say about your condition (or potential lack thereof) after reviewing your records and performing an evaluation?

Attempting to learn as much as possible about the process. Thank you for the info Doc.
 
My S/O is a therapist specializing in OCD; I find it humorous that there is a thread on these boards with people describing "their" OCD. I've known people whose lives were ruled by OCD (drive back home, check that the door is locked, twice, or three times; fear of intentionally driving off of a bridge, etc.), and many whose wellbeing was affected in a negative manner, although they appeared to function in the real world.
I like to have all of my paint cans lined up with the labels forward; she keeps the spice rack in alphabetical order. Not OCD.
 
CDO, if you put the letters in the correct order, as they should be
 
I use the term OCD to describe personality traits of wanting a clean organized space or not wanting scratches on ones car, only because it seems like a good percentage of the population may not even notice those things.

OCD is probably very subjective depending upon different cultures.
 
mandm said:
I use the term OCD to describe personality traits of wanting a clean organized space or not wanting scratches on ones car, only because it seems like a good percentage of the population may not even notice those things.

OCD is probably very subjective depending upon different cultures.
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When I asked what skills were required for my current job, they said, “You need to be very alert for anything out of the ordinary and intolerant of deviation from proper protocol and ruthless about uncovering hidden discrepancies. Basically you have to be OCD.”

“I’m in,” said I, “sounds like fun.”
 
OP (and Tom), I have a SI and Third Class with a history of OCD. No un-ringing the bell necessary, and I'm glad for that, since despite the "history of" classification the FAA uses, OCD never actually goes away and booster therapy appointments are usually necessary. I'm honestly not sure how you'd disapprove the diagnosis, anyway.

FAA required psychiatric and psychological evaluations for me. Psychiatric was just a one-hour talk with the psychiatrist, psychological was a lot more involved, MMPI, WAIS-IV, some OCD-specific tests. If you apply, they will sent a letter dictating what you need.
 
Anonymous said:
OP (and Tom), I have a SI and Third Class with a history of OCD. No un-ringing the bell necessary, and I'm glad for that, since despite the "history of" classification the FAA uses, OCD never actually goes away and booster therapy appointments are usually necessary. I'm honestly not sure how you'd disapprove the diagnosis, anyway.

FAA required psychiatric and psychological evaluations for me. Psychiatric was just a one-hour talk with the psychiatrist, psychological was a lot more involved, MMPI, WAIS-IV, some OCD-specific tests. If you apply, they will sent a letter dictating what you need.
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Do you take an SSRI?

Thanks.
 
Anonymous said:
Do you take an SSRI?

Thanks.
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I did not - ERP alone took care of my symptoms, and I highly, highly recommend that treatment, even if you choose an SSRI as well. But it is my understanding from discussions with the psychiatrist (who was HIMS, though mine wasn't a HIMS case), that an SSRI would also be approvable via either FAA pathway, though I assume Path I isn't something that works for most cases of OCD.

It's also worth noting, as Dr. Bruce mentioned above (and that the psychiatrist was very concerned with), that my symptoms never consisted of many checking behaviors. Obviously that's something that's going to cause a safety of flight issue.
 
Kenny Phillips said:
My S/O is a therapist specializing in OCD; I find it humorous that there is a thread on these boards with people describing "their" OCD. I've known people whose lives were ruled by OCD (drive back home, check that the door is locked, twice, or three times; fear of intentionally driving off of a bridge, etc.), and many whose wellbeing was affected in a negative manner, although they appeared to function in the real world.
I like to have all of my paint cans lined up with the labels forward; she keeps the spice rack in alphabetical order. Not OCD.
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PP here. It's frustrating to see the jokes, which are a huge reason I didn't know I had OCD. I had the fear of driving off a bridge (among other harm-flavor obsessions), and it's no joke to live in absolute terror that you'll one day murder your own family.
 
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