Monday, May 24, 2010

Psychiatrists -have they done any good??? 11?

The stat of 1% came from the Toronto Sun. It was a survey of "consumer survivors" sponsered by CAMH. A doctor like it or not is an employee and it is the right of the employer to evaluate their service. The question is not meant to be an attack - it is a fair and just question - do they help people if so how and how many? At what cost do they help ? Unlike the US I pay for those Dr's wether I go or not so yes I get to ask because my taxes go tword thier wages.I am sure that some are helped - I am not sure if they should be treated as a demi gods and I am not convinced it's hard science and I do believe that they have a responsibility to provide service shen called upon and when they make gross errors that judges and the public have every right to make examples where necesary. I also believe that politicans have every right and a duty to ask the same questions I have posed. Difference being politicans have the ability to get better answers than I can. So I ask people ......do they help

Psychiatrists -have they done any good??? 11?
Have you ever heard a psychiatrist say, "OK my fine fellow...I believe you are doing so well that I won't have to see you again."





I doubt it. If one expresses an intention to quit counseling, the doctor often says, "We still have a lot of work to do."





One can gain insight and appropriate medication from a psychiatrist, but the treatment process is often drawn out far longer than needed.





The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual has been getting thicker every year. New illnesses are literally being created by the pharmaceutical industry.





A psychiatric patient faces many challenges. Every time a patient sees a new counselor, a new diagnosis is tacked on. For example, "This person is narcissistic." These comments stay in your records forever, despite their frequent inaccuracies. One of the most injurious effects of counseling is the labels that are placed upon a person even when conduct is not pathological.





Yes, psychiatrists do some good, but they also perpetuate their clientele far longer than necessary.
Reply:In all honesty, I have done more for myself and grown more through self help books. As for psychiatrists , I found that males were less able to help me because they didn't understand and couldn't empathize. Example; I was told that I wasn't raped. But if it were rape, it was my fault! That was back when they didn't recognize date rape… and it was my fault for allowing him to come watch TV with me when I lived alone… despite the fact that we’d been friends for months, worked together, %26amp; had never kissed.





The psychiatrists I dealt with in the VA system seemed bored, or overworked, or gave horrible advice, like encouraging me to stay in an abusive situation because we had been together 20 years. Finally I quit going, isolated myself, watched Oprah, and read self help books. I feel so much better than I ever have in my life!! My uncle was a psychiatrist. He was also abusive, arrogant, and egotistical.
Reply:Psychiatrists get a bad rap because patients or their families don't always see immediate improvement so they think the doctor is stringing them along for more money or his own ego as a demi-god as one person called him.





I've had psychiatric treatment for a serious mental disorder present since childhood. I was with one doctor for a long time, and the only reason I changed was because he took an administrative position. My current shrink is great. He talked to my first doctor for an overview, then read my records, and the list of medications I'd been on. I assumed control of the initial first few sessions by saying this was what I saw as my major problems, contributing factors, what had been done in treatment (hospitalizations, ECT, meds, talk therapy, etc) because I didn't want to waste his or my time having to drag the answers out. I was the one with the problem--it was my responsibility to set the course. He told me I had summed up what he already knew and we were able to identify what needed to be done on a short- and a long-term basis. I'm never going to be "well" in the traditional sense of a "disease", but I can learn to cope and manage my illness.





Granted, these were private doctors. However, through my husband's employer I have mental health coverage. Every so often they review with him (he has to have some documentation of the sessions) my progress and the prognosis of where I may be in say the next six months. They also call me at home for my honest opinion of how the doctor is performing in helping me not only in talk therapy, but with my meds.





Several times over the years I've had to be admitted to psychiatric units for crisis intervention (suicidal tendencies, for example). Three or four admissions were in a private hospital. Since I was able to see my own doctor, I was satisfied with his care. The first time I was admitted was to a private, not-for-profit hospital. Again, good care, but I don't really know the dynamics of where there money came from regarding salaries. Thank Heavens I've never been in a state institution.





I didn't see the report, probably because I'm not Canadian and am not as current on their policies. You have every right to question any speciality--they all make mistakes through incompetence, poor education and training, or sometimes there's nothing they can do to help a patient survive.





I know if it were not for my current psychiatrist I would not be alive today. I actively sought death more than once. Fortunately for me, I had two breakdowns in his office so he was able to facilitate admission into the hospital. He's talked to my family (husband, son/dtr-in-law %26amp; grandson) with my permission, about my condition, behaviors, medications, whatever is relevant to the moment. I can always call him. If I can't reach him and it's an emergency, I know his pager number and I can call it and after entering my phone number I have a code so he knows to call immediately. During rough times he'll call me between sessions (I see him weekly so I may talk to him two or three times that week) to check on me. He keeps up with my lab records and keeps me informed of the results. I have other health issues and he works well with those specialists to coordinate medications to prevent reactions.





He's also great in a more personal sense that if he finds a book or article or website on my disorder, gives it to me so I can keep current and be intellectually independent for information. Also, when I've been admitted to hospitals for non psychiatric treatment, he will come visit me to check on my physical progress as well as assess how I am doing psychologically.





I don't think I gave you an answer you wanted. I just want to repeat psychiatrists have worked for me. I admit I am lucky to have private insurance that he has to account to for his time, his treatment therapy as well as prescribing medication. The insurance co. keeps me in the loop by sending me statements about what he billed them to ensure accuracy and prevent fraud.





If I had to deal with government-controlled/owned doctors, I don't think I would have such a positive attitude. It does make you wonder who they are working for, especially if the government is supplying monetary or other resources for research, labs, equipment, etc. They may see the patient more as a faceless subject than as "their" patient. Everyone is accountable to someone, and as you know money talks the loudest.
Reply:The question is fairly vague. More specifically do they help with ( add your symptoms here). Many times in psychiatry the answers lie in oneself to make changes and is often outlined by the Dr. but people don't want to do that, that would require a degree of self participation or changing ones ways or routines. No, some people are looking for a pill to make them all better, ya know a quick fix. Some Dr's are more than happy to oblige. 1% seem very low and I wouldn't be surprised if it was a misprint or a reporter who held a grudge. Consumer survivors seems to indicate people with cancer or something and not the general public whom may seek a psychiatrists services. Ya they help but are not always recognized.
Reply:They have never helped me, that's for sure.


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