Posted by OldSchool on February 24, 2002, at 10:36:36
In reply to Neurologists versus Psychiatrists » christophrejmc, posted by spike4848 on February 24, 2002, at 7:55:27
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> > I don't see why it matters if one sees a neurologist or a psychiatrist. I don't know of many psychiatrists who do psychotherapy, so it's basically a matter of who's shoveling out the Prozac. What can a neurologist tell me that a psychiatrist cannot?
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> A neurologist understands the various functions of each part of the brain and how they interaction. They also understand the pathophyisiology of brain disease (and depression is a brain disease). So they are much better equipt to finally uncover the cause of depression and how to sucessfully treat it, whether it be with meds, ECT, VNS, etc.This is exactly correct and what I have been saying. Im SICK of going to psychiatrists and telling them I have all these sleeping, energy level, eating, sex drive and cognition problems and its taken in a psychological context. I have figured out most psychiatrists do not medically understand mental illness very well beyond a basic, descriptive approach. Its sickening.
Im looking for a brain expert...instead what I get is some asshole who dx's me with the psychology based DSM manual and puts me on brain chemistry altering medications.
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> Psychiatrists have *NO* working knowledge of the brain, and therefore have know way determining the cause of depression. So they basically just "shovel" out what ever med the pharmaceutical company gives them. And these companys often give out medications that are marginally effective for depression. SSRIs and serzone are such meds, often giving patient only partial relief. I know many patient who took SSRI for years with little success, and once they started a TCA/MAOI they finally felt relief. So these people suffered for years on SSRIs and lost many years of there life. It is really sad.This has been my impression over the years. Psychiatrists know jack shit about the brain. They know all about the "mind" however. I dont get it...its beyond me. Hell Im confused.
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> Unforunately, many pdoc are brainwashed into only prescribing SSRIs and effexor. I have heard some pdoc state they will never prescribe a TCA/MAOI. That is malpractice!Well I only go to my psychiatrist nowadays to get antidepressants prescribed to me. I do not listen to much of what they tell me anymore, because they've been so wrong before. And because gradually I have figured out psychiatry is heavily BS. Again, its the lack of neurological science rigor and the emphasis on "behaviors" and psychology crap that has made me totally lose respect for the mental health field as it currently exists.
If you have any doubts about what Im talking about, just get your Websters dictionary out and look up the official definitions of psychiatry and neurology. Which branch of medicine would you prefer to be working on your severe mental illness? Someone who actually is interested in and studies brain/neuroscience? Or someone well steeped in psychology BS?
Old School
poster:OldSchool
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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020223/msgs/18782.html