Has a psychiatrist ever actually helped anyone?

Question

Everywhere you look "mental health profesionals" are looked at as demi gods and yet I think they have less that 1% success rate. I have also noticed that they aren't that successful in predicting violent behaviour of criminals. They sell themeslves (and very well) as a hard science but it seems like old fashioned guess work to me.

Are they vastly over rated are they useful do they actually perfom an important function or are they just the modern version of a tribal medicine man?

Personel story that I think is indicative of the whole.
A friend goes to a psychiatrist complaining she heard voices - diagnoses "terminal laziness seeking attention" she killed herself a week or so back.

Has a mental health profesional actually helped you or anyone you know?

The one percent came from the Toronto Sun and cure was defined as a significant reduction on symptoms. It was a survey conducted by CAMH Other than that;

I have only my personel observations to go - and that it. I think the pschiatrist in question should have his license removed and I understand that the issue will go before the courts. Yes I do think that the pschitrist is at least partialy responsible when someone comes through the door and for 6 months complains of hearing voices and nothing is done. Yes I believe she and her husband should have gone elsewhere but this is Canada and shopping is discouraged and somtimes imposible. I can only comment on the stories I read and hear and my observations are noted above. Am I on a witch hunt ? No not at all .....do you have a statistic outlineing the success rate of this ocupation?????
In this particular case I hope that his/her worship makes an example of this person as a warning to others.

Answer 1

The success rate of medication is higher than 1%. Have you looked at the research?
The research proves that medications, like the atypical antipsychotics work successfully at reducing positive and negative symptoms. For example,
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/321/7273/1371?maxtoshow=&HITS=&hits=&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=atypical+antipsychotic+efficacy&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=50&resourcetype=HWCIT

Predicting violent and self-injurious behavior is a double-edged sword. If a psychologist acts cautiously and hospitalizes a patient, then he/she is being insensitive for "locking up" the patient. If the psychologist determines that the patient will be okay for another night, he/she is penalized for not catching the suicidal ideation. I don't know what psychiatrist your friend saw, but he is not indicative of the whole.
I've probably worked with close to 100 patients over the past 5 years. They received psychiatric and psychological care. Out of those 100, only 3 attempted suicide and none successfully committed suicide. Probably 20-25 returned to state hospitals, but this was usually after they stopped their medication. I think if it was all guess work and tribal medicine, the relapse rate would be much higher. If all psychiatrists did was say, "Oh, I don't know. You have blue eyes, so let’s try the blue pills today" or indiscriminately prescribed the same medication to everyone, our hospitals would be more crowded. Think of it this way. There are millions of people with mental illness....depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. In 2001, 30,622 died by suicide. While that is a large number and more than we'd like to see, in comparison to the millions with mental illness, that's a small fraction. But we can't predict everything. People are unpredictable. They're impulsive. They have free will.

Psychology and psychiatry is constantly being insulted and chastised. No one ever accuses neurosurgeons of being quacks or probing aimlessly around someone's temporal lobes. This is because brain tumors can be identified. High blood pressure can be measured. HIV can be proved through blood tests. Where's the definitive test for mental illness? Where is depression on an X-ray? While neuropsychology is making advances on neuro-imaging and mental illness, we still can't look at an MRI and say, with 100% confidence, "Yes, its Schizoaffective Disorder." It’s very difficult to diagnose a mental illness. A lot of times, we have to go by self-report and observation. Do you experience the same emotions everyday? It’s not guess work, its psychologists trying their best to make sense of the conundrum that is man (or woman).
Remember that psychiatrists had to attend medical school, just like cardiologists and oncologists. They understand human anatomy and pharmacology. Some may not have the best bedside manner, but don't hold that against the entire profession. Psychologists attend 8 years of school with at least 4 years in applied training before they can be licensed. Psychology is more than advice. Its more than saying, "uh-huh" and "tell me about your mother".
So, do I know of a mental health professional that has helped me or anyone I know? Yes and yes. I have been helped by mental health services (yes, even psychologists in training have problems- we are human after all) and I have worked with dozens who have been helped.

Answer 2

I guess it would depend on where you live and who you see and what insurance you have too. There are good psychiatrists and bad ones, just like there are good people and bad. Unfortunately it is often a roller coaster ride for the patients who actually need one, and it's a trial and error thing.

Unfortunately psychiatrists as with other doctors and specialists are controlled by insurances and how much quality time they can actually spend with their patients. This doesn't just hurt them, it hurts the individual patient more.

I myself have been helped by a psychiatrist that actually does care about me and listens to what I have to say and makes eye contact with me and everything!! Which was a big shock, for I was used to having psychiatrists in the past looking at their desks and not even up at me.

There are good psychiatrists out there. You just have to investigate and ask a lot of questions to find the right one.

Good luck to you and keep your chin up the best way you can!
I hope I was some what helpful!

Answer 3

I were going to a mixture of psychiatrists and therapists for the previous 18 years and it took 7 years to discover the finest medicine for me to be on. My mom took me in for pressure and melancholy. If she hadn't had her PhD in psychology and widespread about the diverse drugs that are prescribed it would have taken a lot longer. it would nicely be demanding at situations yet in case you artwork flat out and save operating with the medical doctors you'll make it and get the help you want.

Answer 4

I have known family and friends who have been helped as much as they have not. I think of all the people I know who go to a psych or therapist for help, the success rate is about 50%. There are so many variables, so many chemical imbalances and disorders and so many medicines that thank God I am NOT one of these professionals. Therapy did not help me in a few areas of my life I am now dealing with, 9 years later. Do you know the best thing I have found? Dealing with it myself and smoking marijuana...YES! Marijuana. The illegal drug that calms my anxiety without completely sedating me and helps me to tell myself that things that have happened to me aren't MY fault. My life is cool now. I have an awesome little baby and things could always get better...but they are definitely cool right now.

Answer 5

Where did you get your statistics?

I ask this because I think your statement is, at best, not factually based, and at worst, an insult that demeans the hard work that mental health professionals do everyday. As someone with experience in the field of mental health, I have witnessed firsthand the positive effects of both therapy and medication.

Answer 6

Unless you have HARD FACTS and statistics to back up your opinion, don't generalize! Psychiatrists help lots of people. Just because not everyone agrees with them doesn't mean they aren't worthy! There are LOTS of bad doctors in every field!

If your friend (unfortunately) killed herself, it WAS NOT because she didn't get what she needed from a psychiatrist. She had obviously already made up her mind! I'm sorry that happened.

And yes, I am a Behavioral Neuropsychologist and I KNOW that Psychiatrists help!

Answer 7

Yes, in some cases they do help, and greatly. Seeing a psychiatrist saved my life because I got medication that helped me climb out of my depression and now I'm doing great. Medication is also necessary for people with schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, etc. because it controls hallucinations and can help them lead more normal lives. You just had a bad experience with a psychiatrist because it seems they misdiagnosed your friend-she probably had schizophrenia since she was hearing voices.

Answer 8

LET ME TRY TO SIMPLIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A MENTAL DISORDER SINCE HS HOWEVER I WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND TREATED UNTIL 1993. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO GETTING WELL.
FIRST IS TO FIND A GOOD PSYCHIATRIST -WHO'S JOB IT IS TO DIAGNOSE AND PRESCRIBE MEDICATION IF NECESSARY AND TREAT THE CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THE DISORDER.
SECOND TO FIND A GOOD THERAPIST-
WHO'S JOB IS TO TREAT THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF THE DISORDER.
THIRD IS FINDING A TREATMENT PLAN WHERE ALL PARTIES INVOLVED (PATIENT, PSYCHIATRIST, AND THERAPIST) WORK TOGETHER TO CONFRONT COMPONENTS OF TREATMENT.
STABILIZATION PERCENTS ARE HIGHER WHEN ALL OF THREE ASPECTS OF TREATMENT ARE MET.

Answer 9

No it makes them worse. Once this doc gave my best friend medicine that messed up her entire face with big bumps. My poor friend.


She got better when she stop seeing the doc