Is five visits to a psychiatrist normal?

Question

I've been to my psychiatrist 5 times over the last two months and all she's done is talk to me about how I'm doing and adjust my meds a little. She said she has to find the correct dosage that works for me. Is this normal practice? Should I be expecting some sort of therapy or something more from her?

Answer 1

How often you visit your psychiatrist is dependant on a number of factors.

1) what your insurance company is willing to pay for.
2) are you just beginning your treatment, or have already established a diagnosis and treatment
3) the severity of your symptoms
4) some medications require closer, more frequent monitoring than others. Most medication evaluations (Med Eval) last from 15 to 30 minutes
5) when beginning a medication(s) it takes a while for them to take full effect. And, some medications are not thoroughly predictable in how they will effect YOUR BODY. To make sure nothing is going ary, in the beginning it is wise for the Dr. to monitor your progress, or to catch if you are reacting poorly to the med.
6) If you are being evaluated initially, the Dr will assess you through a number of means - what you tell them - answers to questions -- and through observing you. This will initially take time as the outcome of your particular issues determine the direction the Dr would go with medication to treat you. Overall it's rather complicated and they want to be careful to not make mistakes.
7) Once established with a diagnosis and stable on a medication, Psychiatrists see a patient at varying intervalls, anywhere from one or 2 months apart - to 6 months apart if all is going well
8) If problems are not under control, and stable, you could expect your visits to be more frequent.

Answer 2

Psychiatrist prescribe pills, Psychologist listen to your problems. The reason that all that is happening is she is changing you meds is because that is what she does. If you feel like you need to talk somethings out you should sign up for some counseling.

Answer 3

You're fine. It's good that your psychiatrist is trying to keep tabs on you instead of settling on just one thing no matter what.

Answer 4

If she promised you a rose garden then you can say where is it .She has promised you nothing. There is a certain amount of politics before helping anyone in a political disorder. Why should she tell you social secrets anyhow.

Answer 5

Today psychiatrists tend not to do therapy. you are more likely to be sent to a psychologist, counselor, or licensed clinical social worker. you might ask for a referral to one of them to supplemt your medication or ask for her to do therapy herself.

Answer 6

I know people that go once a week for years. you're fine. its normal.