[0ldsoul]

Hello. I have been refered to a psychiatrist (sp?) I have never been and have no real history on paper. All he will know prior are the nurses notes, prob mostly noteing "paranoid Delusions" I was told first visit could take a long time to complete. What should I expect? lots of q&a, paperwork? etc... thank you.

[1flagwriter]

Well, first lets establish the difference between a psychiatrist and a pyschologist. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor! They are trained just as any other medical student is trained. The big advantage to them is they can prescribe medicine as well as provide pyschotherapy. A pyschologist is simply a counselor. They are NOT doctors and therefore cannot prescribe medicine. A lot of them use psychiatrists to manage the meds while they do the counseling/therapy. In a lot of instances, some people skip the whole therapy thing altogether and use stictly the pyschiatrist. That's what I do. Keep in mind, pyschiatrist can and do practice therapy also.

As far as the first visit, my number one thing I beg you to do, for your sake is to open up. No doctor of any kind will be able to help you if you don't tell them EVERYTHING. You have to be open. If you don't know how to answer a question, ask them to rephrase the question. Also, I would suggest discussing the possibility of medication.

Hope this helps. Please post soon and let us know how the appointment went.

[splitimage]

Expect lots of questions. About why you're there, symptoms, how you're functioning in daily life, your goals for therapy / meds. Most psychiatrists I've encountered lately are meds focused and aren't really trained to do therapy (I realize there are exceptions). I remember my first appointment with my first pdoc - I cried through most of it. She asked me lots of questions about my childhood, problems I was having now. She worked with my psychologist, so she was already pre-briefed on me & some of my issues, so really it was a question of figuring out what med to put me on. I got lucky and we hit on one that worked right away.

Just try to be as honest and open as you can, even if it is scary, because that's the best way of getting help.

--splitimage

[possum220]

Yes you can expect a few questions coming from them..... and try to be as open as you can.

But I would also take my own list of questions like......

Do they do therapy and if so what type of therapy?
How long are sessions?
What areas of mental illness if any do you focus on? (Some p'doc's are well versed in say bipolar for instance and not so much on eating disorders).
If you think you have a specific area ask them how they deal with that.

Its true some psychiatrist don't do therapy, but some do.

The most important thing you need to ask yourself after the interview is - Do I feel comfortable with this person? If not, check another one out. Remember it's you who are employing them.

Hello, Oldsoul. Although each practitioner does it a bit differently, information gathering is the focus of the initial consultation. It would be beneficial to make a list of what medications you have (are) taken, any conditions you are being treated for or have been treated for, an extended family history of physical and emotion problems, a list of symptoms that help describe the issue you are seeking help for, and any other information you deem pertinent.

Sometimes I was asked to complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneso...lity_Inventory

http://www.intueri.org/2007/10/07/wh...-psychiatrist/

Try to be relaxed and be forthright and honest in you responses.

[0ldsoul]

You people are wonderful, thank you.

[Catherine2]

Best wishes, Oldsoul...
I would only add this suggestion; try and relax. Yes, it will be an information gathering, however it won't be an interrogation. The pdoc is there to help you get a good start and not to put roadblocks in your way.
Possum was spot on about your feelings after the appt. It is a two way street so to speak...you have to feel you can trust this person to help you. Sometimes it takes one or two appts before you'll know so keep your options open.
And, yes, please be honest. It's the only way the pdoc can do a good assessment...perhaps thinking of it as a team effort would help?

In Peace

[jennaorgana]

lots and lots of preliminary questions, that's for sure!

[paddym22]

You have nothing to fear Oldsoul they are there for your wellbeing.

[2bpainfree]

i think that you should expect a long time at the doc's office. when i was doing "intake" interviews when people didn't have alot of info about themselves we had to ask alot of questions. plus all the paperwork you have to do-offices are different, if you have to do the paperwork it will take as long as it takes you to fill it out then the doc has to go over your answers. others go over the questions with you and sometimes that takes longer.
but it's great that you are going, they are there to help you and even if the 1st appt is annoying the end result will be good.

How did the session with the psychiatrist go?

[la doctora]

I had my first visit with a T yesterday. It was definately and information gathering session but I didn't feel that I was being interrogated or anything. Most of the questions asked were about things that I was prepared to talk about anyway. It lasted about an hour. I cried almost the entire time. It was quite a release and it felt very good to get some weight off my chest. We established a good background and a foundation to build my sessions on for sure. My T is not a pdoc, just a counselor, but she is in the same office as the pdoc that I see for medications. It's pretty convenient. I am very encouraged and feel like this will really help me through some difficult issues. I can't wait for my next session already. Like the others, I encourage you to open up completely. I did not feel judged or otherwise uncomfortable. I could tell that her goal was to help me. All in all a good experience. I wish you good luck in your first session!

Pleased you had a good session, la doctora.

[0ldsoul]

2 more days... thanks again for the continued responses.

No need to be paranoid, Oldsoul. Think of it as a conversation. If you know the answer, say so. If you do not say that too. If you are unsure, say you think so, but will check.

I have had a lot of psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists. If the conversation seems to be getting bogged down, I just remind them I am the most important client they have right now.

You will do great.

[Trying & Caring]

Also, if in your state they can prescribe meds--try a psychiatric nurse practitioner. They spend much more time w/you each session (& cheaper). Been w/one for about 14 yrs. & she is wonderful. Spends 45 min. to an hr. or actually whatever I need. She knows ME & my life & asks questions about my daily life to see how I am doing. She gave me her cell ph. # so I could call her at any time.

Pdoc I had before her was strictly prescribing his favorite medication (Depakote) which helped w/agitation (was in a mixed episode; bipolar 1 disorder) but did nothing for the depression. He thought as long as "the radio wasn't giving me special messages" that I should just stay on Depakote! I never had that as a symptom!!

Find someone you trust & can be totally honest with as he/she needs to know your thoughts/emotions/behaviors in order to help you. My intakes usually take 1.5-2 hrs.

Good luck & keep seeking if first couple of pdocs or specialists are not a good "fit."

[0ldsoul]

Ok,

SO I had my appt. It was a joke and came across as quite the waste of time.

It was 20mins tops. He asked about 25 VERY broad questions, mostly looking for yes or no answers, little chance to explain or ask for a more clear question. When I did he seemed bothered and either repeated the question or added an extra word or two, lmao. Then he shut his book, wrote me a perscription for an anti psychotic, stood up, handed it to me and without even sitting back down opened his door and stood looking at me as if to say "ok, we are done, bye!"

Thats the quick of it.

I am trying to stay positive, as I actually find such behaviour by a profesional amusing, it was commical in a disturbing way. I have completely lost faith in the system, or at least in the system in my area.

So my questions are:

Are a handful broad questions, a 20 min sitdown, with ZERO background and ZERO history of myself... enough for him to scribble me up a perscription? Or to even have the smallest understanding of what I am dealing and have dealt with? I mean, I have a few areas that need looking at and only one was talked about.

I try to look at all angles, and the only positive one I can hang from is, perhaps there are very few meds that each deal with a VERY broad range of areas, thus only needing a brief session to determine this? I have been on here and hovered for a very long time, so I find that scenario a bit hard to believe from what I have read, but who knows.

I was perscribed Invega (not sure if thats the spelling, I dont have it infront of me) I did a search on here for it and found nothing but horrible reviews, not a single positive experience. Anyone have one?

So, I dont know, what should I take from this less than impressive experience?

Thanks again everyone.

Oldsoul

As one who spoke of my experiences with the initial interview, I am disappointed that you were given such a cursory evaluation. I have no experience with what he prescribed.

You have a decision to make about getting a second opinion or trying what the psychiatrist prescribed.

[possum220]

Sounds like that P'doc had the personality of a shrub.

He is obviously not a counselling p'doc, or a caring one either.

I did a quick look on Invega and it is used for psychoses and other purposes. The description was very general. I have not experienced that medication.

Can you get a second opinion, whilst waiting try the medication and see if it helps? Did he give you some kind of diagnosis?

I'm sorry that your experience left you feeling the way you do. Do you think you need counselling?

I hope you can eventually find what you need.

[0ldsoul]

Originally Posted by Trying & Caring

Also, if in your state they can prescribe meds--try a psychiatric nurse practitioner. They spend much more time w/you each session (& cheaper). Been w/one for about 14 yrs. & she is wonderful. Spends 45 min. to an hr. or actually whatever I need. She knows ME & my life & asks questions about my daily life to see how I am doing. She gave me her cell ph. # so I could call her at any time.
.

Very true, thanks. Another thing that really bugged me, was I spent over an hour with a nurse the first time in. She was amazing, thourough etc.. I felt good. She took lots of notes and did allot to get me in the right direction. The Pdoc, either never even looked at the notes, never got them and obviously never asked to get them. He had no idea I why I was even there. She spent so much time helping me and his only comment was. "Why are you here. Apparently you saw ********, never heard of her, must be new". I dont know.

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

As one who spoke of my experiences with the initial interview, I am disappointed that you were given such a cursory evaluation. I have no experience with what he prescribed.

You have a decision to make about getting a second opinion or trying what the psychiatrist prescribed.

Yes, very true. In the end, attitude aside, thats what its down to. I have spent a year doing everything possible to make progress without the option of meds. I have improved greatly, but there is still room for improvement. So really, I went for a perscription, nothing more. So I suppose I recieved what it was I was seeking. Maybe my expectations were too high, or I am being selfish in how I felt I should have been delt with.

Originally Posted by possum220

Sounds like that P'doc had the personality of a shrub.

He is obviously not a counselling p'doc, or a caring one either.

I did a quick look on Invega and it is used for psychoses and other purposes. The description was very general. I have not experienced that medication.

Can you get a second opinion, whilst waiting try the medication and see if it helps? Did he give you some kind of diagnosis?

I'm sorry that your experience left you feeling the way you do. Do you think you need counselling?

I hope you can eventually find what you need.

Yet another area that bothered me. Not a single diagnosis, not a "maybe' not a "possibly" no direction what so ever. I was hoping for that, it would stop me from trying to research the dozen or so illness' that I may be suffering from. Make sense? If I could have had direction, I could finally focus on self help for a specific area and stop wondering.

Its all good, I am not in any way in any worse shape than before the appt, just disapointed I am not ahead ;P.

Thank you all again.

Oldsoul