Gosh, Chris, I wish it were that simple. It just isn't. Psychiatrists in an inpatient setting do get to know the patients, talk to them, get them involved in activities (to the best of the patient's ability), individual and group therapy. Where did the stereotype arise that all pdocs do is overmedicate patients to keep them quiet and compliant??? That's never the goal of a hospitalization.

I agree that human beings are resilient. But mental illness is a result of disease. I concentrate on what's good in my patients every single day and yet they don't all get better. Sometimes they decompensate. Sometimes they can't bear another day of pain and kill themselves. Sometimes they choose the pain over the fear of taking the medications.

You're right. Sometimes we just don't have the answers. But, I'm optimistic that some day we will have lots more of the right answers and that will be a glorious day indeed!
Take care,
Okie