Posted by Sarah T. on September 26, 2005, at 21:03:54
In reply to Differences between young p-docs and old p-docs, posted by Deneb on September 26, 2005, at 17:46:41
Hi Deneb,
It is not "snooping" to research where your doctors were educated or how long they've been practicing medicine. I think that's vital information that patients should know. It's important to be an educated consumer. Both my talk therapist and my psychopharmcologist write and publish extensively in medical journals, and I like to read what they've written. I wouldn't have known how prolific they are if I hadn't "done my homework" (i.e., if I hadn't "Googled" them and "PubMedded" them).
I tend to prefer doctors that are a bit older and have been practicing longer because there's no substitute for experience; however, overall, I think you just have to judge one individual at a time. It's very important for you to feel comfortable with your doctors, regardless of their age or yours. You need to have rapport whether it's with a talk therapist or a psychopharmacologist. So far, I haven't found the ideal psychiatrist who is equally adept at talk therapy and psychopharmacology. I have a different doctor for each. Both are M.D.'s, but each is specialized, perhaps too specialized. You know that saying about, "You can't be all things to all people"? Well, at this point, I think that might apply to psychiatrists as well. Each of my doctors does what he's good at. Although I complain a lot about having to go to two psychiatrists, I think it's probably better this way.
poster:Sarah T.
thread:559901
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050922/msgs/559997.html