Did I waste my time with a psychologist? AGAIN?

[imagine-that]

Please help! This is not the first time I’ve seen a psychologist; getting no real treatment afterward. I already paid a psychologist $150 to just listen to my problems two years ago. Yeah, I don’t have insurance. Here’s what happened a week ago:

I had an evaluation from a psychologist , who has a Phd. At the end of the evaluation his feedback was that I’m the “classic example of the Inattentive type.”
So he says he’ll give his report to a Doctor Of Medicine who can prescribe me the medicine. I called that MD’s office and they said they haven’t received the letter/report yet, and the appointment maker said that the MD would have to re-evaluate me anyway.
I can’t call the psychologist ’s office today because they’ve already closed, so I need to talk to them about sending the letter tomorrow.


So if I have to get re-evaluated by the MD, why did I give the psychologist $200? Or will having the letter/report from the psychologist expedite the process? The long diagnosis process from the psychologist would of taken $1500, but he said I can SKIP the rest of the diagnosis because he’s ruled out everything else.

Hearing that the MD requires his own evaluation really frustrated me. I know what I have. I just need to be on the meds right now. This is taking up too much time and money. How many evaluation's is this gonna take? I think any qualified doctor worth anything would see I've got no other problems except the inability to maintain focus, avoid distraction, and use my memory properly,

[Greg1982]

I understand you wrote you don't have insurance, but thought I should include that part of it for anyone reading that might be in a similar situation (and it's part of my curse that I can't let myself be less specific). So I apologize for any information you didn't want, please ignore it.

Sometimes it can depend on your state's laws(and/or insurance coverage).

1. The evaluation the MD might be doing could be different than the Psych eval. (medical vs psychological)
2. The MD may be looking at medical history and current medications before prescribing another, while the Psych is looking to assign an actual diagnosis(ICD-9).
3. The MD may be looking for the Psych diagnosis to help determine what a good first medication choice might be.
4. The MD may not be able to legally prescribe (or your insurance may not cover) the medication without a diagnosis from a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

There are other things that follow a certain "process-to-treatment" as well. Knee replacements typically require a diagnosis, x-ray, physical therapy, pain relieving injections, and if none of those relieve the symptoms then a surgical consult/treatment. Even though the knee joint is obviously deformed and bone-on-bone there is a certain process MD's and Orthopedic Surgeons must follow before they can use surgical treatment.

Try not to let it frustrate you, but if you don't get the help you think you should be I would look for another MD.

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by imagine-that

Please help! This is not the first time I’ve seen a psychologist; getting no real treatment afterward. I already paid a psychologist $150 to just listen to my problems two years ago. Yeah, I don’t have insurance. Here’s what happened a week ago:

I had an evaluation from a psychologist , who has a Phd. At the end of the evaluation his feedback was that I’m the “classic example of the Inattentive type.”
So he says he’ll give his report to a Doctor Of Medicine who can prescribe me the medicine. I called that MD’s office and they said they haven’t received the letter/report yet, and the appointment maker said that the MD would have to re-evaluate me anyway.
I can’t call the psychologist ’s office today because they’ve already closed, so I need to talk to them about sending the letter tomorrow.


So if I have to get re-evaluated by the MD, why did I give the psychologist $200? Or will having the letter/report from the psychologist expedite the process? The long diagnosis process from the psychologist would of taken $1500, but he said I can SKIP the rest of the diagnosis because he’s ruled out everything else.

Hearing that the MD requires his own evaluation really frustrated me. I know what I have. I just need to be on the meds right now. This is taking up too much time and money. How many evaluation's is this gonna take? I think any qualified doctor worth anything would see I've got no other problems except the inability to maintain focus, avoid distraction, and use my memory properly,

My family goes to a county mental health clinic. They have a sliding fee for those with no insurance.

Because I work only one day a week I pay only $10 to see the psychiatrist for a meds check and to renew my scripts.

Check to see if there is a mental health clinic in your county that works the same way.

A psychiatrist knows a heck of a lot more about meds for ADHD than an MD does.

[imagine-that]

Originally Posted by Greg1982

I understand you wrote you don't have insurance, but thought I should include that part of it for anyone reading that might be in a similar situation (and it's part of my curse that I can't let myself be less specific). So I apologize for any information you didn't want, please ignore it.

Sometimes it can depend on your state's laws(and/or insurance coverage).

1. The evaluation the MD might be doing could be different than the Psych eval. (medical vs psychological)
2. The MD may be looking at medical history and current medications before prescribing another, while the Psych is looking to assign an actual diagnosis(ICD-9).
3. The MD may be looking for the Psych diagnosis to help determine what a good first medication choice might be.
4. The MD may not be able to legally prescribe (or your insurance may not cover) the medication without a diagnosis from a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

There are other things that follow a certain "process-to-treatment" as well. Knee replacements typically require a diagnosis, x-ray, physical therapy, pain relieving injections, and if none of those relieve the symptoms then a surgical consult/treatment. Even though the knee joint is obviously deformed and bone-on-bone there is a certain process MD's and Orthopedic Surgeons must follow before they can use surgical treatment.

Try not to let it frustrate you, but if you don't get the help you think you should be I would look for another MD.

Thanks a lot. So the psych eval was worth something after all.

[purpleToes]

If you went to a psychiatrist first, they can diagnose and prescribe for ADHD. A non-psychiatrist MD can prescribe schedule-IIs at their discretion, but most usually won't prescribe them without supporting documentation from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

[425runner]

Why the hell would you go to a psychologist to get evaluated when as @purpleToes said you could have gone straight to a psychiatrist and get diagnosed + prescribed meds. Unless it's some kindda of a law in KS or something....

[purpleToes]

Originally Posted by 425runner

Why the hell would you go to a psychologist to get evaluated when as @purpleToes said you could have gone straight to a psychiatrist and get diagnosed + prescribed meds. Unless it's some kindda of a law in KS or something....

No one starts out knowing how all these things work. Most of us learn as we go.

[Greg1982]

Psychologist visits are, in most cases, less expensive than a psychiatrist. Especially for a person without insurance.

[lalapin]

In my case (but it's probably different since i'm in Canada) I was seeing a psychologist for anxiety problems and when my anxiety was cured she really started to dig into my past and present issues and it took like 7-8 sessions before she diagnosed me (i was not even looking for a diagnosis, she just found out). Then she gave me a letter explaining all the mental stuff going on with me and that I have ADHD ect so I could give it to a Dr. I went to a general dr (private sector-I paid) that is knowledgeable in adult ADHD and gave him the letter, we discussed for just under an hour about my ADHD and my physical health, he examined me and prescribed the meds + blood/urine tests.