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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Garnet71 on April 19, 2009, at 14:13:40
Has anyone had more luck with a psychophamracologist? I've never heard of them until recently. I'm wondering if they are more expensive. And wouldn't all psychiatrists automatically be psychpharmacologists? I mean, that's what they do-try to find the right medication. So what's the difference?
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2009, at 15:04:55
In reply to psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by Garnet71 on April 19, 2009, at 14:13:40
Garnet so glad you asked the question as have heard various things. First time heard they psycharmacologists deal with a lot of neurological stuff them heard they are psychiatrists with more med training. But that doesn't make sense to me confused. And the the GPs, internists that prescribe same meds???? Love Phillipa
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 19, 2009, at 15:42:56
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist » Garnet71, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2009, at 15:04:55
yes, thanks for the question. I have wondered this too. I tried looking at the local Uni for psychopharmacologists--looks like they do research, but not clinical work, at least at this Uni.
Posted by Merge on April 19, 2009, at 17:12:00
In reply to psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by Garnet71 on April 19, 2009, at 14:13:40
There is a decent description about psychopharmacology here: http://www.ascpp.org/pages.aspx?PanelID=1&PageName=What_is_Psychopharmacology
I have treatment resistant depression and have tried a ton of different antidepressants, in different combinations, but nothing works for longer than 2 years or so. My pscyhiatrist has recommended that I consider seeing a psychopharmacologist...I'm considering it, but I just don't know if I have the energy to start over with a new doctor.
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2009, at 20:16:02
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by Merge on April 19, 2009, at 17:12:00
Oh do I know the feeling. You'd think that all pdocs would have to understand how meds interact with each other and effect body systems. Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on April 19, 2009, at 23:29:10
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist » Merge, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2009, at 20:16:02
> Oh do I know the feeling. You'd think that all pdocs would have to understand how meds interact with each other and effect body systems. Phillipa
Doctors are trained in general medicine and then develop their specialties.
I'm sure your psychiatrist would know how an appendix removal procedure would go, but would you want someone who doesnt do surgery operating on you?
There's a line blurring between psychiatrists and psychopharmacologists -- mainly psychopharmacologists are better trained in polypharmacy and multiple-medication interactions. They have probably taken more courses and CEs in such matters than psychiatrists.
But I would say that all psychiatrists should know about the P450 system as much as psychopharmacologists.
As for neurology, that's really an outside consult, I don't think in either case that they would feel comfortable other than placing observation on neurological matters.
In that case, a neurologist is also a physician who would probably know things about psychiatry but is trained most in how to do a lot of neurological examinations.
-- Jay
Posted by Zana on April 20, 2009, at 7:54:25
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on April 19, 2009, at 23:29:10
Psychopharmacologists do their residency in psychopharm.
Psychiatrist do their residency in psychiatry-- treating patients with talk therapy.
Psychopharm docs may also train in general psychiatry.
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 20, 2009, at 8:34:54
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by Zana on April 20, 2009, at 7:54:25
> Psychopharmacologists do their residency in psychopharm.
> Psychiatrist do their residency in psychiatry-- treating patients with talk therapy.
> Psychopharm docs may also train in general psychiatry.Although that may generally be true, there is no recognized American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology subspecialty in Psychopharmacology.
http://www.abms.org/Who_We_Help/Physicians/specialties.aspx
There is an organization called the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, which confers the honorific ASCP upon doctors who pass the qualifying exams, but this is a non-board sanctioned professional organization. Although the qualifications require a medical specialization, that specialization could be anything, e.g. family medicine, orthopedics....
http://www.ascpp.org/pages.aspx?PanelID=1&PageName=What_is_Psychopharmacology
Patients must investigate the educational background of anyone claiming to be a psychopharmacologist. There are residency programs in psychopharmacology, but the board certification could not be in that subspecialty. It's a loop-hole, perhaps, but any doctor could claim this specialization at present, unless they have ASCP certification. But I'd still want to know how they got there.
Lar
Posted by yxibow on April 20, 2009, at 15:33:27
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by Zana on April 20, 2009, at 7:54:25
> Psychopharmacologists do their residency in psychopharm.
> Psychiatrist do their residency in psychiatry-- treating patients with talk therapy.
> Psychopharm docs may also train in general psychiatry.Not quite sure that there is any standard.
I would say my doctor calls himself a psychiatrist, is trained in psychopharmacology and is also definitely trained in psychodynamic therapy.
Its true though that not all psychiatrists are trained as much in talk therapy as a psychologist would be whose livelihood is mostly trained in that and has some required courses in medicine even if they cannot prescribe anything in most all states (and I think it should be that way, you need an MD who knows about all interactions).
-- Jay
Posted by Zana on April 20, 2009, at 16:20:33
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist » Zana, posted by yxibow on April 20, 2009, at 15:33:27
Larry, you are right. The psychopharm doc I am seeing now just has on the job training. I'm not sure I'm going to stay with her... She makes me nervous.
Zana
Posted by Garnet71 on April 20, 2009, at 17:49:43
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist » Zana, posted by Larry Hoover on April 20, 2009, at 8:34:54
From that website Larry posted - to belong to that private organization for psychopharmacology, they have to have additioal training and take an exam every 5 years to keep up on all the current meds (do regualar PDocs also take these exams?). I think that would be beneficial. It's seems all PDocs should be psychopharmacologists anyway-I've never met one who did 'talk therapy'-do they really exist?
I checked their database of members, there is no one near here. There is one in my city who has a website-i bet he is very expensive, from my first impression anwyay.
Why would I even bother checking since I have no health insurance anyway. duh.
Posted by antigua3 on April 23, 2009, at 7:42:31
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by Garnet71 on April 20, 2009, at 17:49:43
Yes, my pdoc does meds and talk therapy. Actually, all of the pdocs I've seen over the years have done this.
antigua
Posted by desolationrower on April 24, 2009, at 16:42:43
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs. psychiatrist, posted by antigua3 on April 23, 2009, at 7:42:31
i wouldn't mind talk therapy from a pdoc, but i have trouble imagining someone functional enough to be able to afford it actually needing it...
-d/r
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