What's the average length of time you spend with your psychiatrist, and how often do you go? How are they supposed to know how to treat you when they only see you once a month, or once every couple of months for 5, 10, or 20 minutes?

Generally, 15-20 min once a month. The doc relies a lot on my feedback to guide her treatment decisions. For "other" issues, I also see a separate therapist.

Yep, I guess that's pretty average. I talked to one guy, he and his wife saw a shrink for meds each month, and their appts. were 5 minutes long! He said the shrink NEVER went over the 5 min.! ARGH!

Yep, I guess that's pretty average. I talked to one guy, he and his wife saw a shrink for meds each month, and their appts. were 5 minutes long! He said the shrink NEVER went over the 5 min.! ARGH!

That's the type of shrink I need, I don't want to be in the doc's office more than 2 minutes.

T-Bass

Mine range. Jazz.

Usually they are 15 mins. My dr only does med evaluations.
Sometimes she will talk to me longer depending on her mood too.

When I was sick and my parent came with me cause Mom had some medical questions and well Dad didnt want us goign by ourselves at night. The dr spent at least half and hour if not longer. No matter how old I get my mom is still concerned about my med and how I am doing medically but this time I was bad on the med. She call 3 times and the dr did answer but then we found out she was in a car accident so she could call.

I think it depends on your dr. Usually from 5 - 15 minutes is the norm. As for how do they know what med to give you in that short time span of talking>>> alot of it is trial and error. They are trained to observe your behaviour what you say and dont say. I hve been going thourgh the medical profession for so long and have seen all the changes in the proffessions that I have learnt many things in this life and not all I like.

15 min. per month. I see my theropist in the same office. They share the same file and will talk with each other about my treatment if the occasion call for it.

Ishtar

Mine depends on mood.

It could be Max of 1 hr/wk <---> Min of 30-60 mins. every 3 months.

Generally it is 30 mins. Sometimes we get talking, and 20 mins has flown by. (We talk about various stuff -- not all of it psychosocial, or illness-related.) Then there's 10 mins to test my IRON (Serum Ferritin) or Blood PRessure, and write any RXs.

Generally they judge level of care by how anxious/distressed/overwhelmed a person seems, i think.

re#7, Line #1.

eg. how long an app't i ask for...

PDoc has known me for some time now (1.5-to-2 yrs), so he knows i will phone if i had a problem, got into any trouble with meds, side effects, etc.

I went every tuesday,they were 1 hour sessions.

Will it not depend on what is needed,and severity of problem? :confused:

I went every tuesday,they were 1 hour sessions.

Will it not depend on what is needed,and severity of problem? :confused:
Not in these days of managed care. Most docs aren't allowed to do therapy anymore, they're strictly for med management. They spend a very minimal amount of time with patients. I think that sucks, but I do think some docs will do what they have to do, others will go by the managed care books. What's going to happen if and when psychologists can prescribe meds?

Jazz

10 minutes once every three months. They started making me fill out this ADD survey they copied from a magazine in the waiting room. I became overmedicated because my doctor did not listen to the extent of my concerns and my lack of understanding on how to get Adderall now has caused me to drop the prescription and that was very difficult. She said something like-- first call the pharmacy 4 business days ahead of time to call her then she would fax them a script and I was supposed to go in four days later to get the meds but the pharmacies didn't all want to cooperate so I was supposed to call her on the same day I was out of meds and she'd write me a script I'd pick it up bring it to the pharmacy the same day and they'd give me the meds. I said screw that. HELLO I have ADD!

10 minutes once every three months. They started making me fill out this ADD survey they copied from a magazine in the waiting room. I became overmedicated because my doctor did not listen to the extent of my concerns and my lack of understanding on how to get Adderall now has caused me to drop the prescription and that was very difficult. She said something like-- first call the pharmacy 4 business days ahead of time to call her then she would fax them a script and I was supposed to go in four days later to get the meds but the pharmacies didn't all want to cooperate so I was supposed to call her on the same day I was out of meds and she'd write me a script I'd pick it up bring it to the pharmacy the same day and they'd give me the meds. I said screw that. HELLO I have ADD!
An Rx for Adderall can't be faxed, since it's a controlled substance. The doc has to actually see you face to face, evaluate how you're doing, and then write the prescription. That doctor sounds ..... um, unethical, or at the very least too busy.

Jazz