Posted by BrittPark on December 15, 2002, at 12:51:23
In reply to Re: Drunk on Zoloft?, posted by Simon Sobo MD on December 15, 2002, at 7:25:07
My apologies Dr. Sobo. I didn't follow the golden rule of PsychoBabble. "Don't post when peeved" ;)
I think we probably agree about more things than we disagree.
I come at psychiatry from the perspective of patient. I tend to favor the medicine side of things because that is what has been most helpful for me in my worst depressions. When in the acute phase of depression, just making it to see my therapist is almost more than I'm capable of, and the very idea of a participatory form of talk therapy seems laughable (if I could laugh). I think the best analogy for me is that of someone who has a multiple fracture of the femur. One does not expect them to start physical therapy until the bone is healed. For me the talk part of recovery becomes useful when medication has helped almost to the point of recovery. The talk then becomes a kind of post-mortem of the preceeding episode, which is indeed very helpful. This kind of therapy has made my depressive episodes less frequent and less severe over the last 20 years, for which I'm very grateful.
Now as to improper use of medicines, I don't doubt you are right about ADHD (not to mention SSRIs). I think a big part of the problem is that GPs are now treating a lot of people who would be much better off with a psychiatrist.
Looking forward to your ADHD paper,
Britt
poster:BrittPark
thread:123623
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021210/msgs/131910.html