I went to see a psychologis/psychiatrist about a condition I have called multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder (DID) and after one session she told the receptionist to put in the computer that they can rule out DID so I figured there was no use gong back to her if she wasn't going to believe me that I have this disorder. I see another doctor in the same building so they asked if I was coming back to see the other doctor and I told them what she said. They said that the term "rule out" is a medical term and does not mean she meant it was to rule out DID but rather it meant it was a possibility and that she wanted me to see a specialist to find out if I have it. This sounds like double-talk to me and sounds contradictory and I can't understand how saying to rule it out meant it was not to be ruled out. Does anyone have any advice about this? Thank you. I should add that I tell the doctors that my daughter and son saw various things I did that were out of character for me as well as friends I have had for 50 years and other very close friends and yet all the doctors say things like How do you know they aren't lying to you. Or how do you know those things really happened and they didn't just make it all up. Why is is easier for them to believe that all these people and family are lying to me and making it up rather than believe I really have this disorder. I was told I did something very unusual and I had no recollection of it and I knew I didn't do anything like that and I was denying it happned and that I had done anything like that when my friend who was there and witnessed the whole incident told me I did exactly what was described and that is what set the whole ball into motion and made me realize I have a problem. He did not lie about it. Others saw me do it, too. He spoke the truth when he told me I had indeed done what they told me I did. Why won't any doctors believe us?

In medical terminology "rule out" (or R/O in the abbreviated) means that they would like to do further testing to either confirm or deny the diagnosis and that at this particular time there is not enough evidence to either support or deny the particular diagnosis.

Let me also state (my specialty will be in mental health nursing when I graduate) that MPD or DID is extremely rare. Many people who suffer from rapid cycling Bipolar Disorder can have the same or similar experiences as someone with MPD/DID, as well as people with schizophrenia.

Are you, or have you ever been, on any medications? If so, what kind and for how long.

Again, just to reiterate... "Rule out" means further testing is needed to confirm or deny the diagnosis.