Posted by Burnedout on December 6, 2003, at 15:27:23
In reply to Re: Psychiatrist or Psychologist, posted by stjames on December 6, 2003, at 14:48:09
Psychiatrist or Psychologist?
If you have a good one of each category, they will work together.
Therapy and medicine both have been shown to change the chemicals in the brain--put them back as they need to be. Therapy takes longer but is longer lasting. Medicine works quickly, but there are risks taking medicine.
The M.D. or D.O. can do therapy, but he's more apt to prescribe a medication, and doesn't do much in the way of counseling.
A good therapist can't prescribe a medication, but know how to help a person learn to think, so the problem can be resolved.A good psychologist is going to know when medicine is indicated. A good psychatrist is going to know when more than just medicine is needed. They can work together--but often don't. Mine do.
Unless in crisis, I'd see the psychologist first to get a clear diagnosis.
If the diagnosis isn't schizophrenia, bi-polar, or something like that, something that needs strong intervention, right now, such as mild depression (still a serious condition), mild OCD, etc., the therapy might be able to help all by itself. And it will be long-lasting.
A therapist usually has time to take a more thorough history than a psychatrist and give psychological test that used in conjunction with talking, will get a prettty good handle on what's wrong.
So, I'd vote for using both. Generally, a clinical psychologist first. Then on recommendation, to the psychatrist.
My psychatrist manages my medicines, my therapist works to help me to be able to achieve the same results without medicines. The ultimate goal of both, I think, is to not need either.
Medicine is a short-term answer.
To get the same affect, it may need to be taken forever.
The techniques learned in therapy, can be used all the time, without having to go to the drugstore.Each has it's merits. I vote, unless in crisis, let the therapist do the diagnosis and the psychatrist prescribe any medicine, if needed.
poster:Burnedout
thread:286928
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031202/msgs/287193.html