Hi Dee,

PROBLEMS WITH OUR SOFTWARE

I'm sorry to hear your experience with our software was so disappointing.

Our software asks the same questions for every diagnosis. Thus the software will always give the same diagnosis given the same data. The only way our software would give different diagnoses on different dates, is if the user gave the computer different data on these different dates.

There are a few suggestions that might help:

• Try running our software in "therapist mode". That way, you can read the technical notes for each question which will help you better understand that question.
  
  For a correct diagnosis, you must carefully read every word in each question. The time frame stated on the top of the question is especially important.



• Limit your diagnostic assessment to only one section at a time (such as "Mood Disorders" or "Personality Disorders"). That way, the assessment will take only a few minutes, and not tire you out.


[*]Have a close friend diagnose you (by answering for you using our software).

The questions used in our software are "standard" questions used to assess DSM-IV psychiatric disorders. This software is used by psychiatrists both in inpatient and outpatient settings, and they do not report experiencing the problems you have described.

There is a real possibility that computerized diagnosis is simply not for you. That is why a computer will never replace a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Other individuals have found that this software will fail to give an accurate diagnosis if they have a tendency to answer "yes" to most questions. These individuals tend to exaggerate their problems to the point that they "have everything". Thus our software (and any other psychological test) would be invalid under these circumstances.

Other individuals have a tendency to deny having their problems; hence they answer "no" to everything. Our software (and any other psychological test) would be invalid under these circumstances.

If you wished to share the diagnoses you (incorrectly) received; I could help you unravel this problem.

It would be very helpful to hear from our other members who have used this software. I especially would like to hear if their assessments significantly differed each time they diagnosed themselves.

There is an excellent review of our software in:

Computer software review: DECISIONBASE.
Thompson, J M
Canadian Family Physician. Vol. 37, pp. 473-476

WHY HAVE ONLINE COMPUTERIZED PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS?

The US Surgeon General wrote:

"The burden of mental illness on health and productivity in the United States and throughout the world has long been profoundly underestimated. Data developed by the massive Global Burden of Disease study, conducted by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University, reveal that mental illness, including suicide, ranks second in the burden of disease in established market economies, such as the United States ... Nearly two-thirds of all people with diagnosable mental disorders do not seek treatment ... When people understand that mental disorders are not the result of moral failings or limited will power, but are legitimate illnesses that are responsive to specific treatments, much of the negative stereotyping may dissipate."

Mental Health: A Report from the Surgeon General

My hope is that online access to computerized psychiatric diagnosis can help the two-thirds of all people with diagnosable mental disorders, who are not in care, to seek treatment. My belief is that individuals can reliably diagnose common psychiatric disorders in the privacy of their home using our diagnostic software.

There are areas of psychiatry (e.g., psychosis, personality disorders) where individuals may not be aware of how ill they really are. However, usually their family or friends can use our software to reliably diagnose these individuals.

Thank you Dee for starting this important discussion.

Phil Long M.D.
Administrator

Hi Aquamarine,

Your tests are private, so I can't go back into your data and see what the problem is.

We find that many individuals "don't read" the extremely important time specifications for each question (e.g., "most of the time, for the past 2 weeks").

The best way to "test" the accuracy of our diagnosis software is to have someone (that knows you well) complete the diagnostic questionnaire answering for you. It would be extremely important to find out if another person can use this software to correctly diagnose your problems (as they see you).

Good luck with this experiment.

Phil Long M.D.
Administrator