Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 17, 2011, at 17:19:26
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs psychaitrist, posted by Christ_empowered on November 17, 2011, at 15:56:52
>On the one hand, I think its unfortunate that psychiatrists don't get more funding in the UK. On the other hand, it sounds as if lower-cost, but probably very important, services are emphasized.
There's been quite a bit of 'hot air' over here about how patients ought to be able to access 'talking treatments'. In practice, they aren't always available due to long waiting lists or lack of appropriate therapists. The result of this is that most people with moderate mental health problems get most of their treatment from the GP - which usually consists of occasional brief chats and repeat prescriptions for SSRIs or similar.
>Look at the US. Shrinks here have adopted the bio-bio-bio model of mental illness....
When it comes to moderate mental illness, I think there's much less of a bio emphasis here. There's still a strong bio emphasis for psychotic disorders, severe chronic depression and the more classic presentations of bipolar disorder (bipolar I).
>Is there any evidence that people with mental illness of any sort--especially the more severe disorders--do better over here than in the UK?
I don't know, but you guys certainly like prescribing the latest meds. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it's a major difference. When a new med gets launched here, it doesn't always get used much at first. Psychiatrists normally use the meds that they are familiar with and there is strong pressure from the NHS to avoid spending money on new products unless there is a clear advantage. This is not good for the pharma industry! It can sometimes be a good thing though... except when patients are denied access to new treatments even when the standard meds haven't helped.
You have a greater range of psych meds in the US. We do not have Latuda, Geodon or Fanapt. Saphris is not widely available but I think it may be supplied to hospitals. I'm not sure how much we are missing. We do have a few meds that you don't have, after all.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1002759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111110/msgs/1002908.html