I use the term "shrink" because I really mean "analyst" as opposed to either "pdoc" or "therapist." So I define the term in posts just to be clear because I know it is not the typical situation here. I am just trying to match the community with its own habits like using just "T" when I always spell out "therapist." I have differences that I have to respect as well as bend to fit in.

I have read an article like that, perhaps the same one. I asked my shrink today about the history of psychiatry on this issue of whether it's changed into just giving out meds and away from therapy.

There are studies that show that psychotherapy has an effect size almost double to anti-depressants as just one example. So I don't think meds are completely the answer in many if not most situations.

I do use meds for anxiety so mild benzos so my shrink does provide me with that and occasionally I've needed something for depression, but his primary focus is therapy whether or not it is analysis.

There are lots of people who have put down psychoanalysis. It is an easy target. But not all psychoanalytic approaches are the same. And contemporary approaches have be shown to be as or more effective that so-called empirically validated approaches such as CBT. There are longer lasting effects and more depth change so even in something like borderline psychoanalytic approaches have more effects that something as commonly assumed as DBT. It really depends on what research you read and what your beliefs are as to what you pick out for a "warning."