Winterrose, you have some good questions there.

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WinterRose said:
How would you select someone?

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The number one thing I would do is ask my therapist for a recommendation to a pdoc. I can ask my therapist just about anything, so I would ask him what this pdoc's philosophy was, why he recommended this person, what his other clients thought of this pdoc, etc. I might also ask my primary care physician for some names of pdocs he likes to work with and ones he refers patients to. Again, I would ask him/her why.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>[*]What is your philosophy concerning prescribing drugs and recovery from mental illness? What other methods do you use other than prescribing drugs?

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I wouldn't go to a pdoc unless I needed meds. I get my non-med help from my therapist. Are you looking for something more than meds from your pdoc (e.g. therapy)?

Probably one of the most important things I would try to assess when I met the pdoc in person is his/her willingness to work with me as a team to find the best med solution for me. I do not like the top-down, know-it-all approach, and I would expect him to listen to me, and take my concerns into account. For example, I recently went to my PCP for med help for anxiety. This is the first time I have ever taken any meds for my mental/emotional challenges. She wanted to put me on an anti-depressant she said was also good for anxiety. I told her I did not wish anti-depressants at this time as I am not depressed (I beat that problem with psychotherapy), and the one she suggested leads to weight gain (I do not need that!). She respected my wishes, and instead gave me another drug that we discussed and decided together might work well for me.

Winterrose, are you expecting the pdoc to answer the list of questions in advance of your meeting him/her? (In writing?) Or is it a courtesy list so he/she can be prepared for these questions when you meet in person?

Good luck.