Is the patient - psychiatrist relationship on equal grounds?

Question

There seems to be a fundamental (intrinsic) problem in the relationship between a psychiatrist and his or her patient.

It is very often, that failure in the relationship is said to be due to the mental disorder of the patient. I can imagine that this makes the distiction between true relationship/trust/etc failure and the cause being patient disorder difficuilt.

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

I had a phych for 15 yrs until his retirement. He diagnosed me and after that I called the shots. He would suggest a medicine...sometimes I said yes and sometimes no. But if I didn't like a medicine, he trusted me and we changed it until I felt in control of my bipolar. We did this for years. He knew me and I trusted him. He retired and I can not find one like him. My new one is ok, she listens to me too, but I miss Dr. Medina.

Answer 2

The rapport, I mean this relationship is very important. Most of the time it is mutual, the patient and the therapist are both "riddles" for each other. The more the therapist learns and finds about the client's problem, the patient feels better and therapy progresses.

Answer 3

I still dislike my psychiatrist, I cannot trust him. I've told him my name, it's been eight sessions, I just sit there and listen to my music. He's really creepy. I could never trust anyone with my past, present, or future.

Answer 4

So, you answered your own question.