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Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

blogs.scientificamerican.com

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Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#21

Post by phren0logy »

I'm a psychiatrist. It is always amazing to me that despite four years of medical school, six years of residency and fellowships, and four board certifications, the assumption is that I have no idea what I'm talking about and have evil motives.

There are fair criticisms of psychiatry, there are bad psychiatrists, but mostly there are crappy generalizations. Good psychiatrists have an understanding of what medications can and cannot do, and a well-rounded view of the person they are treating as a whole human being.

I work with the mentally ill who are involved in criminal justice, both juveniles and adults. I can assure you, having more psychiatrists would help a lot of people.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#22

Post by phren0logy »

marsrover wrote: post #15
phren0logy wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry this has been your experience, but please don't throw my entire profession under the bus because of it.

I don't doubt that there are great Psychiatrist out there (you're probably one of them, and I'm sorry to have offended you). However, due to my past experiences I'm reluctant to find out where or who they are or recommend this form of treatment to others.

That sucks, and I hope you will find what works for you.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#23

Post by leesalminen »

dougmccune wrote: post #12
marsrover wrote: post #2

The last Psychiatrist I went to prescribed me 4mg of Klonopin a day for anxiety. The one before that prescribed me 40-50mg of Adderall a day for ADHD and about 600mg of Seroquel a night for sleeping problems. Both times I decided to quit going and tapered myself off. There never really asked how I felt or seemed to care about me in any way shape or form. Just, "Here's your drugs, see you next month." I have a horribl…

I'm married to a psychologist specializing in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy for treating anxiety and insomnia. There are ways to deal with these problems without medication. And these methods are backed up by peer reviewed studies to prove they work. If you do end up needing help in the future I'd recommend reading up on CBT.

Isn't it amazing though that CBT wasn't thoroughly examined as an option prior to prescribing multiple prescription medications?

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#24

Post by serge2k »

Pica_soO wrote: post #17

The basic lie that psychiatry is based upon, is that there is a sickness where there is suffering. Not neural phenotype, that yes can suffer, but have been useful for various enterprises and endeavor of humans kind. Manic-Depressive where our "suicidal" explorers, alcoholics stopped us from being nomadic, gays pressured into churches formed the first institutions and created contract security. The list continues near…

I honestly have no idea what you are talking about here.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#25

Post by intopieces »

phren0logy wrote: post #14
marsrover wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have noticed. Multiple times I've gone to a Psychiatrist and they have decided to try something because it's new and supposed to work, when the reality is they've only ever put 2 or 3 clients on it and it has been working for a few weeks, and the medication itself has only been out a year. In addition, the worst times in my life were the times when I was taking psychiatric medications.

I'm sorry this has been your experience, but please don't throw my entire profession under the bus because of it.

Your profession needs no help from marsrover to find itself under the wheels of a bus.

Every other medical revolution -- such as the rise of antibiotics, the pioneering of complex surgeries, and the advancements in medical imaging -- have resulted in a net reduction of people suffering from the ailments those tools are involved in treating.

Not so with psychiatry. The more drugs that are developed, the more illnesses are discovered to use them on.

You'll have to excuse the skepticism of some us who have seen loved ones suffer through debilitating, sometimes permanent side effects from drugs their psychiatrists prescribed. Your profession will get the benefit of the doubt when fewer of us are caring for those loved ones.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#26

Post by warfangle »

alleychnt wrote: post #16
phren0logy wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1.Psychiatrists go to medical school, just like other "doctors." 2. There is a huge evidence base for the practice of psychiatry, though it would be nice if it were adhered to more rigorously. 3. Incomplete understandings of the mechanisms of action of drugs is rife throughout medicine. For example, why does the hypertension drug HCTZ work at sub-diuretic doses? 4. If they were doing great, they probably wouldn't nee…

Show me a guy on psych meds who is doing great and I'll believe you.

o/ heya.

I've been on psychiatrist-prescribed meds for a little over two years now. I've gotten a better job, my salary has increased by 52%, I live with less stress, I have a (mostly) tidy home, I am no longer dependent on alcohol, I care for a wonderful dog, I am cultivating healthy relationships and friendships, and I am more involved in my community.

I've also been seeing a cognitive-behavioral therapist for about three years to work through anxiety, depression, gender identity, and trauma from several childhood sexual assaults.

But maybe I don't count, because I'm not a 'guy' :) but I'm doing absolutely fucking amazing, thank you very much.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#27

Post by groovy2shoes »

marsrover wrote: post #10
alleychnt wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Psychiatrists are a bit like chiropractors. They want to be seen as "doctors", but none of what they do has any scientific basis. Ever notice how psychiatrists just prescribe you random medications without knowing how, or even if, they work? The most damning fact is that I've never met anyone on psych meds who is doing really great.

I have noticed. Multiple times I've gone to a Psychiatrist and they have decided to try something because it's new and supposed to work, when the reality is they've only ever put 2 or 3 clients on it and it has been working for a few weeks, and the medication itself has only been out a year. In addition, the worst times in my life were the times when I was taking psychiatric medications.

To offer a counter-anecdote, I suffered from severe, recurrent Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD primarily inattentive (it's not at all uncommon for the three of them to present themselves simultaneously in individuals) for over 10 years before I finally started seeing a psychiatrist.

For the last 2 years, I've been taking 3 medications daily, and after the initial hump of spending a few months trying to find an effective combination, we arrived at one that really works for me, and I can't remember ever feeling better.

Furthermore, my psychiatrist has always treated me with respect, empathy, and genuine interest in my well-being. If he doesn't actually care about me as a person, then he's a damn fine actor. From my point of view, the end results are indistinguishable.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#28

Post by phren0logy »

leesalminen wrote: post #23
dougmccune wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm married to a psychologist specializing in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy for treating anxiety and insomnia. There are ways to deal with these problems without medication. And these methods are backed up by peer reviewed studies to prove they work. If you do end up needing help in the future I'd recommend reading up on CBT.

Isn't it amazing though that CBT wasn't thoroughly examined as an option prior to prescribing multiple prescription medications?

Sad but common. Also, I have had many patients go to therapists and get "CBT" that had nothing in the world to do with CBT as studied and researched.

Re: Can Psychiatry Turn Itself Around?

#30

Post by e40 »

phren0logy wrote: post #21

I'm a psychiatrist. It is always amazing to me that despite four years of medical school, six years of residency and fellowships, and four board certifications, the assumption is that I have no idea what I'm talking about and have evil motives. There are fair criticisms of psychiatry, there are bad psychiatrists, but mostly there are crappy generalizations. Good psychiatrists have an understanding of what medications…

And some of the problems that cause bad outcomes are outside of what you control. Laws forbidding families from getting information about their mentally ill adult children, for example.

Also, "the system" (insurance companies, the courts, etc) sometimes make it very, very hard to get someone the help they need.

I had a mentally ill colleague that was very difficult to help. His family was ready and willing, but it was just impossible, given the legal constraints on everyone, to get him the help he needed. He was homeless for 6-9 months before he was committed and then got back on his meds and was able to go home.

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