This Web’s Patients’ Resources, Listed with Each Diagnosis

Welcome to these resource-lists for brain health patients, your caretakers and your families. May I take a few minutes to explain what this website offers? You have just seen your doctor or therapist and have been given a specific diagnosis for the pains and difficulties you have been through. Their time with you is limited and you may not understand fully what they are telling you. You may also have trouble finding information and support to guide you.

Wikipedia Articles: For each different diagnosis, the Wikipedia description is shown on this website. Wikipedia articles are written for ordinary readers. There will be some medical terms, but the diagnosis is clear.

Pharmacy Discounts: There is a list of several companies, led by “Good Rx,” which can reduce the price of many medicines you will need to buy, up to 80%. Their contact information is on the website.

1. YouTube Videos: You can watch a video about your diagnosis, taken from YouTube on the internet. My ‘ideal” video offered about 15 minutes of a personal story of someone sharing your diagnosis. Or it may have been a professional explaining what is happening in your brain and body. It might also include ways to reduce your pain and frustration through therapy. If you want more information quickly, there are usually several videos for each diagnosis on “YouTube Videos” on computers.

2. Amazon or Library Book: For each diagnosis, there is also a book sold by Amazon. My goal was to find a paperback written for general readers and costing less than $20.00. Some books are more expensive, though. Your local library may have a copy you could read for free. If your library does not have its own copy, many libraries work together through “Interlibrary Loan.” Brand new books are not usually shared until at least 12 months after they are published. Libraries are terrific resources, but you may want to buy your own copy from Amazon, if the diagnosis makes you sensitive.

3. Support Group: If you have a difficult or long-term diagnosis, you might appreciate a “support group” of people who will understand when you need to talk. There may not be a local group of patients with your exact diagnosis. The most likely local group sessions are through an organization called, “NAMI,” the “National Association for Mental Illness.” The NAMI staff will welcome your attendance. Unfortunately, there are few face-to-face support groups for most specific diagnoses. On-line groups were my next-best choice and you may find them helpful. If I could not find human or on-line groups, I looked for the contact information for national diagnostic groups: some have only written materials, but others provide directories of nearby or regional support groups.

4. Special Education: For some of the diagnoses, school-aged children qualify for “Special Education.” Diagnoses listed here are only the ones specifically offered on the Internet. Checking with your local school should be productive for other diagnoses that I did not include, since they were not listed by name.

5. Disability Income: Those unable to earn employment due to their diagnosis should contact their Social Security office for possible “Disability Income” assistance. There is a very thorough evaluation for a Disability Benefit. Your limitations due to the diagnosis must be severe and likely to be permanent. The process is usually long. Sometimes there may be several “rounds” of investigation and may take years. Early contact with your Social Security office is good, since this process is long and difficult.

This Web’s Professionals’ Resources

1. PubMed Abstracts: PubMed is updated daily from Internet research abstracts (summaries) on relevant studies categorized by each of the 200 diagnoses. Abstracts also link to free full copies of each research article or paid-for copies from international publishing organizations.

2. Diagnosis Title, DSM-5 Page, and ICD-10 Code: The second table combines the diagnosis’s title with the opening page number of description of that diagnosis in the DSM-5. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association) It also shows the ICD-10 code used for providers’ own diagnoses and billing procedures for your convenience. (World Health Organization and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)