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The first picture that comes to one’s mind when one hears the word psychiatrist, is probably that of a 50 year old, balding, slightly plump man/woman, looking at and judging you through his/her half moon spectacles. He probably reads minds, predicts the future and can hypnotize instantly. He spends his time making up disorders, turning people into zombies by prescribing mind numbing medication, deleting and inserting memories and thoughts at will. The psychiatrist could very well be the “witch” of modern day medicine, misunderstood and unrecognized by patients and the medical fraternity alike.
Here are 13 things I wish everyone knew about psychiatry.
1)Psychiatry is a medical specialty – Like cardiology and neurology, psychiatry is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. The diagnoses are scientifically based and have excellent reliability and validity. All medications and therapies have thousands upon thousands of research papers backing their efficacy. Cutting edge research is taking the field forward.
2)Psychiatrists want to help , not hurt – Like all other medical professionals, shrinks do what they do, only to help those whose seek their help. All doctors operate under the basic principle of “minimizing risks and maximizing benefit and psychiatrists are no different. People avoid psychiatrists like the plague. We are definitely not the plague.
3)Psychiatrists do not always prescribe medication – Medication is prescribed only for specific indications, certain diagnoses and only if there is substantial scientific evidence of efficacy. Psychiatrists can help identify and correct dysfunctional thoughts, beliefs and behavior with the aid of psychotherapeutic techniques and talk therapies. We just want to help you get better, with medication or otherwise.
4)Sometimes, a psychiatrist is the only one who can help – Most physicians would be fazed when faced with violent and uncooperative patients. Or an agitated young woman who is keeps cutting her wrist, and sometimes threatens suicide. Not psychiatrists, they are trained to deal with behavioral emergencies.
5)Psychiatrists do not turn people into zombies – Adverse effects caused by a agents of a certain class of antipsychotic medications can lead to side effects that include slowness of movement and an expressionless face. There are however safer alternatives, that have been in regular use since the 1990’s. Psychiatrists will not herald the zombie apocalypse.
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