I think we confuse the role of psychiatrist with the role of psychologist. They each have their place. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and just like our family physicians, their focus is on medicine. My primary care physician/family physician spends just enough time needed to come to a logical diagnosis. Then he sends me on my way with a script for medicine. His patients are scheduled every 10 minutes. Why do we expect more from our psychiatrists who are also schedule at 10 minute appointments. When I want to sit and talk about what is happening in my life I go to my psychologist. When I want to see about my psychotrophic medicine I see my psychiatrist. In 10 - 15 minutes she can ask me how everything is going, look at the depression scale I filled out and decide if my medications need to be changed. Sure, she has to listen to me but she doesn't have to listen very long. There are lists of symptoms for depression and (hypo)mania and this discrete information, along with any side effects I am experiencing, are all she really needs to know to decide if my medications need to be changed. I tell my psychologist my life story. I tell my psychiatrist about my mood states and possible side effects.