24 year old mental hospital records

[decoty]

I was placed in a mental institution back in 1986.  The hospital is no longer there and hasn't been for years.  My physician has also relocated to VA I think but can't find him.
I have lived with Disassociative Idendity Disorder since I was 3.  Im having horrible issues now that Im older and I desperately need to find my old records or get some proof of my diagnosis from back then.  I was told that the hospital burned down.  Isn't there a way to retrieve my old information from somewhere?  

[missdoxology]

You know I am wondering that if you went there upon the advise of another doctor that may have noted the reason for having you admitted to the hospital.  My psychiatrist was the one who recommended I go to one and after our follow up appointments I know he has that in his files corresponding to my various whatevers.  If your hospital is gone and the doc is gone you may have to accept the fact that it is time for a new diagnosis.  It may be different than what they though in 86.  The dsm last revision was pub. in '94 and the latest in circ. is from 2000.  The 5th edition is due for 5/2013.  This disorder is so complicated that I do not know if it is necessary for your current health professional to obtain these records.  So much more is known now about what used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder and the accepted treatment methods used today vs when Shirley Mason/Sybil did or did not suffer from it.  You obviously need help.  I just do not think you can find those old records.  If the hospital closed, there was a fire and the doctor left.  You are probably out of luck.  The way they used to save paperwork would have been to box it, then years later the boxes would have either been distroyed or microfilmed.  If you were no longer a patient they probably destroyed those records.  Again, even if you could find that doctor, more than likely he would either not be practicing anymore and or might not remember.  Those files would have stayed at the hospital if you were not his patient anymore.  I hope you can get the help you need.  It sounds like from what I have read that this disorder is mostly treated by frequent sessions of therapy and that you can do.  I wish you the best of luck

[caregiver222]

Most likely, no. The statutory requirement for records retention is seven years and institutions generally destroy them after that date. Otherwise the volume of records stored would become unreasonable. You can track down your physician, but he has probably destroyed those records also. But you can always try. Contact the AMA association in the area where your old physician now practices (or youi think he practices).