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Bipolar Disorder: Nonpharmaceutical Therapy

Psychiatrists As Therapists For Bipolar Disorder

Where Have All the Psychiatrists Gone?

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BlueAngel
New Member

89 Posts

Posted - 05/18/2005 : 10:02:33

I have been fortunate to have the same psychiatrist for nearly 20 years. In the years prior, I had four different psychiatrists and one psychologist. I strongly believe that ONLY a psychiatrist is capable of meeting the treatment needs of bipolar patients; and I think that only a BOARD-CERTIFIED psychiatrist will do. Therapy for bipolar requires a higher degree of understanding of brain chemistry and drug therapies, as well as greater skill in psychoanalysis. I think that family practitioners, psychologists and social workers all lack the specific education and training to put our problems in context. I don't like seeing bipolar treatment divided between physicians who prescribe and therapists who counsel, either. Again, the context is lost.

But where are you going to find a qualified psychiatrist whose caseload has room for you? My shrink retired from private practice nearly five years ago, but he still sees me because we never found a replacement in the rural area where I live. Even when I expand my drive distance to include three major urban areas, I'm offered only two choices of doctors with board certification in psychiatry by my insurance provider. Since both of them were as close to retirement age as my own doctor, there seems little point in making the switch.

Like many insurers, mine seems to steer bipolar patients to lesser specialties (social workers, psychologists, even nurse practitioners) to save money, I'm sure. Such folly, since poor treatment for BP so often leads to hospitalizations!

So, where are all the psychiatrists? How do I find someone who is recently educated in the latest methods, board-certified in this specialty, and far enough from retirement that I never have to change doctors in midstream again?

Would the powers that be please send me a young hot-shot psychiatrist who wants to build his practice in my rural neighborhood!

BlueAngel

autumn2night
Full Member (100+ posts)

175 Posts
Gratitude: 4

Posted - 05/18/2005 : 20:23:29

BlueAngle,

If you have exhausted all of your insurance referrals I would suggest that you call your employment companies H.R. and discuss your options. You may be able to call also the insurance board in your state and ask what they would suggest. I've personally have had to switch pdoc,'s several times because of my husbands corporate moves to two different states. Also we have changed from Cigna insurance to Aetna to Cigna again. When we moved to Colorado in 1999 I kept my current pdoc. and pay out of pocket. I file with my insurance and get reimbursed. Have you looked into that option? Bipolar disorder isn't a specialty and is treated by all of the pdoc.'s that I have ever called - perhaps because of the disciplinary investigation you are getting the "rub off'? Just a thought. I had a whole clinic under investigation - long story.

I have an added dx. to my BP which only usually 4 pdoc.'s can treat in an hour radius of where I live. I know how difficult it can be finding someone to trust all over again. For a year or so my daughter and I didn't get our visits reimbursed and it was still worth keeping my pdoc.

Good luck,
Duffy

yoyo
Starting Member

9 Posts

Posted - 05/19/2005 : 18:13:41

oh Angel - what a drag that someone reported him for treating you in an unconventional way. How very very sad.

You dont exactly live in the boonies girl (by my standard). I cant believe your insurance only offered 2 choices.

Well I get my meds from a pdoc that works at Mental Health one morning a week. When I cant get in to see him because of work I can phone him and have an appointment by phone.

How screwy is that.

Anyways good luck finding a young hot shot pdoc.Since you have your palms together might as well as for him to be gorgeous as well.

Thinking of you, yoyo.
I will get my email fixed this weekend. I promise.

Nadine
Starting Member

18 Posts

Posted - 05/28/2005 : 15:29:12

quote:
The former acting director of the National Alliance for Mental Ill (NAMI), Rex Cowdry, stated candidly of mental illness before U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee hearings, We do not know the causes. We dont have methods of `curing these illnesses yet.

Claims about the efficacy of psychiatric drugs prescribed to cure the chemical imbalances in peoples brains also lack proof. In one resent study, researchers Irving Kirsch of the University of Connecticut and Guy Sapirstein of Westwood Lodge Hospital, Massachusetts, analyzed 19 prior studies on antidepressants and sedatives involving 2,318 patients. Their findings ruled out that any chemical balance in the brain is restored through the drugs.

"We do not really know anything about this business of the brain. We are just at the borderline of how it even works chemically, says Dr. Walter Afield, nationally eminent psychiatrist and examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry, who currently serves as Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Institute in Tampa, Florida. Yet a doctor gives a drug to someone, and when it has a side effect, balances it with this other drug, and so on, and it gets to be so much hocus-pocus.

b.m.young@charte.net
Starting Member

6 Posts

Posted - 05/19/2006 : 09:26:44

There are no more psychiatrist unless you have been with one for many years My experience is that they only have time to practice psycopharmacology...not psychiatry. They don't listen (for the most part) not because they don't want to but because they do not have time. You need to have a good therapist and a pdoc who can work together with you...that is the key my friend!

b.m.young

warblaster
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)