Now that I’m getting ready to turn 70, I thought I’d summarize what I’ve learned since I finished my residency, when I was 28. Of course, I didn’t learn all this only by being a psychiatrist, since I would hope that most folks have also learned lots in the last 41 years.
1. Psychotherapy is important, particularly if the patient is on the right medication. I won’t do “med checks,” since I would not want them if I was a patient. I figure if it’s simple enough to do in a few minutes, my family doctor can probably handle it or learn how to do it. If it’s complicated, it’s going to take me more than a few minutes. If you have a severe psychiatric disorder like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and you are not on the right medicines, you’re in a lot of trouble.
2. Splitting the treatment is serious. Do it only when both treaters know and trust each other and are able to communicate easily. It puts a psychiatrist at great risk of a suit, with little reward.
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