Posted by Viridis on June 28, 2003, at 0:38:02
In reply to Re: how to find a good doc, posted by David Smith on June 27, 2003, at 0:10:20
I think psychiatrists are much like people in most professions -- some are awful, most are mediocre, and a few are excellent (of course it's really a continuum). And, some are good for certain patients but not others. So, although it sounds kind of callous, finding a good psychiatrist is not so different from finding a good plumber or mechanic (except that much more is at stake!).
As others here have suggested, references from therapists can be helpful, if you're seeing one. Your GP might know a good psychiatrist, if you're lucky. If you have friends who are seeing psychiatrists, ask them what they think. And of course, above all, you'll probably have to try out a few yourself before you find one you connect with, if that's an option. Then there's the element of luck -- and the harder you try, the "luckier" you'll get.
I have a great, compassionate psychiatrist now, who's willing to try lots of options, listens to what I say, and lets me tailor my treatment to suit my needs (within reason). However, I've seen some real duds, or ones who are stuck on a particular drug as a one-size-fits-all med. I found my current pdoc after a bad experience with my GP, who doesn't have a clue about mental problems. At that point (after 12 years or so of bouncing around from psychiatrist to GP to therapist, and being prescribed meds inappropriate for me, or none at all), I decided I would find a good psychiatrist no matter what.
I made a list of the psychiatrists in my area who were on my insurance plan, and set appointments with a series of them. Many couldn't see me for a month or two, but one had an opening in two weeks. I went to see him, we really clicked, and he quickly determined that the various meds I'd been on just weren't right for me. His intuition has been very good, and when I tell him a med isn't working, he takes me off it. I do best with a combination of low doses of several meds, determined by a mixture of my ideas, his, and trial and error. Sometimes I have to wait to see him, but that's because his "15 minute" med checks sometimes stretch much longer if he feels he needs more time with a patient. Now I generally take the last appointment of the day, and it's not uncommon for him to stay an hour or more past his official closing time if necessary.
I kind of hit it lucky (and simply cancelled my other appointments), but he could also have been the third or fourth or eighth I'd seen -- the point is that I finally decided I wouldn't put up with suboptimal treatment and would hold out for the best. Since then, I've heard from several people that he's become widely respected in the region and is hard to get an appointment with. Yet, he says he can always get me in on 24 hours notice if there's a problem, because psychiatrists have so many cancellations.
So, I'd try to line up appointments with several if you can, see them until you find one who seems right for you, cancel the others, and stick with him or her. There are good ones out there -- it may just take some looking, and some negative experiences along the way.
poster:Viridis
thread:237111
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030624/msgs/237636.html