Mental Health Industry Corruption Within The Usa!

[jesse]

Wow that is pretty crazy. It does really confuse me as to why it is so hard to find a good psychiatrist. There is a critical shortage of them here too. So then you get to be on a waiting list and see a bad doctor:) Avoid them like the plaque I tell you.

 

[intothelight]

Seems to be a mentality among GP's that it is alright for them to diagnose mental disorders and dispense psychotropic drugs, instead of referring a patient to a mental health professional. I don't see a psychiatrist to get antibiotics for my strep throat, and I don't think a GP should diagnose PTSD and prescribe a SSRI.

 

[anthony]

This is an issue that allitherapy raised a week or two ago, where she stated that Shrinks are MD's, so they can diagnose and dispense for other medical issues beyond psychiatry, yet exactly as you day Deb... there are specialties for good reason.

Psychiatrists in Australia have the same as the US, they are MD's, they are doctors, they can prescribe medication, however; they don't go outside their specialist field because they do not remain current with general medical conditions, instead they remain current with psychological issues, which with practicing, is a full-time job. I understand that Alli is in medical school, but that type of thinking is what is railroading the US medical system off-balance to be perfectly honest.

A shrink here will refer you to your GP for anything outside of psychiatry, because whilst they are a doctor, they are not current in general medical, hence it is not ethical for them to treat you, just like a GP is not ethical to diagnose your mental health and treat you for that. Once a psychiatrist has seen you, diagnosed you, and you pass that information to your GP, sure, you can just see them for pharmacy renewals... however; they will stick a time frame on that of when you should be going back to see the psychiatrist for follow-up assessment.

Medical physicians should be working together in their specialities, not trying to dabble in other areas. That is like a GP going and performing open heart surgery, or going to your heart surgeon about a pain you have in your leg. Their specialties consume their time... so whilst they may be able to do something, is it really ethical and viable for the best interest of the patient? No... not according to Australian medical doctrine and other countries seem to have a similar view, ie. European countries, Commonwealth countries.

The US has imploded, now I am just waiting for it to collapse, then self destruct... because it doesn't seem like change is occurring due to learning from past mistakes... instead it seems the same mistakes are being made. Whilst some think this has nothing to do with other countries, the US is part of the world and all countries tend to look across borders at what occurs to work unilaterally vs. opposed to one another.

 

[MurphyJB]

"There was a study run with some college students, and the scary part is that over 80% of them all with zero trauma, where able to fake a diagnosis from physicians of PTSD. They did this to test diagnostic ability and experience, unbeknownst to the treating physicians... and with only letting the students read up on PTSD and what they should be saying, doing, etc... 80% + pulled the diagnosis from the treating physician."

Sadly, I know someone who has done this. Faked PTSD and an anxiety disorder (2 different doctors) in order to et Rx pills.

 

[anthony]

Yep... scary scary stuff considering what we are dealing with from physicians. These are people who are supposed to follow a course of protocol for diagnostic application, before they can prescribe any type of medication, and they are failing dismally.

 

[jewel]

Anthony-
Here is a very reliable source from the US checked over on FEB 24,2011.

[DLMURL]http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml#PTSD[/DLMURL]

This site is the National Institute of Mental Health. What it says is:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Approximately 7.7 million American adults age 18 and older, or about 3.5 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD.1, 2
PTSD can develop at any age, including childhood, but research shows that the median age of onset is 23 years.5
About 19 percent of Vietnam veterans experienced PTSD at some point after the war.13 The disorder also frequently occurs after violent personal assaults such as rape, mugging, or domestic violence; terrorism; natural or human-caused disasters; and accidents.

One other site of interest. This gives statistics for many countries. There is a 4 person per day diagnosis difference between the UK and the US. This site was also checked over FEB 2011.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder

I do believe that many physicians are money hungry. I think it is very unfortunate. Many of our physicians do what we call "waste basket diagnosis" with things like ADD, ADHD, Depression and I am sure PTSD falls into that. If they are frustrated then their quick answer is to fix it with a pill. However, more often than not you find very reputable physicians who are not like that. They give you time and patience. They work with you, not against you.

Just my humble thoughts.

 

[jesse]

I feel really fortunate to have a good family doctor to maintain meds with. He didn't diagnose me a psychiatrist and a psychologist did. He is much more compassionate and caring and my meds work well too.

 

[anthony]

You may want to have a closer look Jewel at the material you have quoted... the first from NIMH if you review the sources of that information, is based in 2005, from 03/04 data, and 2005 based on 2000 data.

The PTSD wiki page, also contains 2004 data. This was the last time they released such information collectively, because the last 7 years show some zany results if you go review areas uniquely, then start adding up the math... it gets ugly. If the latest details were collective, the US would be sued for negligence.

Looks awesome if you read their little speel... doesn't look so good when you review the sources that are still 7+ years old, and exceed a decade.

If you go looking at other countries mental health statistics, you should be able to find them up-to quite current, ie. 09, maybe even 2010 in a rare circumstance. Go look at the US bureau of statistics for mental health, they stopped at 2004, and for good reason... it gets real ugly... and not good when even your main authorities on the area stop publishing them, ie. NIMH.

 

[jesse]

That's probably because the funding was cut to support the war.

 

[anthony]

Some of the last research I read, based on 2010 statistics for PTSD in the USA, they project that 60% of the population will suffer from PTSD at some point, and the lifetime prevalence is now estimated over 12% in the USA... when if you read older data, they estimate half that rate, and only around 20%+ will suffer PTSD at some point in their life. Zany results... and experts can't really attempt to know exactly how much is misdiagnosis, because all they have to work on is official data exceeding 5+ years. Some demographic areas within those scales, have spiked in excess of 500% increases.

The US VA system has resorted to diagnosing thousands of troops with personality disorders upon return from war, as that way they can dishonorably discharge them which means they have zero entitlements to any treatment, even if only PTSD, disability pensions, etc. TBI has also been increased over 600% vs. PTSD diagnosis, as that way they only need support TBI medical aspects, not PTSD, which means no psychological treatment, as TBI is physical, not psychological. Is the US broke?

All countries VA systems have been pulling some shonky crap though in regards to this Afghan war nonsense... considering the time it has been going, and all are making it harder for PTSD diagnosis to some degree... but there are lines drawn at patient best care responsibility. Put a veteran on the street with uncontrolled PTSD in a country were you can buy guns so readily, who they gave TBI diagnosis instead, so they are untreated and uncontrolled PTSD... suddenly they begin shooting lots of innocent civilians... then they blame the veteran!

 

[catjudo]

Is the US broke?

Yes! And the government/politicians have some screwed up ideas on where to save money. IMO, and I realize not everyone agrees, they have cut funding or continue to under-fund vital, important areas. Priorities are screwed up!

 

[mysihba]

Wow you are so spot on. ! It seems to be "trendy" to have ptsd now. I don't want to negate anybodies trauma but as you stated, the diagnosis is really spelled out. What really irks me is that it appears that every year, there is a knew diagnosis for what previously was a sign or symptom of an existing one.....every year a "knew" one, or two. It's a bit out of control.
Ironically I was in denial of my own cptsd for a long time (common), and then took a few years to actualy accept the fact i had it, and still working on gaining control over it etc. My experence over 12 years was that of far more bad help than good in the medical/Pshc. community. In my own travels on the internet I have bumped into many of those you talk about.....and very few "real" people that want to talk about it and many with one insignificant trauma etc.
Again I don't want to negate those people but some need to simply betold the truth, and I have already bumped into a thread I'm not going to answer because..."I"m really sorry you lost your cat...". I have a huge burden to help sufferors if i can. That would include those at risk for ptsd (apparently PTSS had changed...along with the DSM). or anybody going thru hard times...but especially....if intervention will prevent them from becoming like me.
That doesn't mean, to me, that every emotional disturbance should be in here. As you said, bad things happen in normal life and there is a difference between most of them, and PTSD. I trust you are on the right track. I suppose those self-diagnosed want to be's might be self limiting but probably not in the best interest of the rest of us. I support your intentions here and appreciate all your work.
We may differ a bit re "Vet's with guns". In the US, vets with PTSD are considered a threat to homeland security. That just increases my rage. In a country that values it's Vets?? and our gun rights....it's a bit alarming. This isn't subject for this forum, just wanted to add my thoughts.

Why did I have to Fight....for the "right" to have cPTSD, and get some help for it and now, as you stated, most any traumatic event qualifies one in the eyes of the MD's and Psych commumity, other than when needing a disabilty from the Gov. or past employers.

I hope you can bear with me in breaking the rules here. I have a hard time typing, have dyslexia post ptsd, etc.

Thanks again !