What are some red flags to look out for in a psychiatrist?

Here are some things to look out for when going to or being treated by a psychiatrist:

• Qualifications: According to norms in India, the minimum qualifications for a psychiatrist is an MBBS and either an MD in psychiatry or a diploma in psychiatric medicine. Without these, they are not qualified to treat you. A therapist or a counsellor is not qualified to prescribe medications either.

• Explaining medication: They refuse to or evade explaining the reasons behind prescribing certain medication and/or don’t warn you of the risks and side effects of the medicines prescribed.

• Attitude towards therapy:  They don’t “believe” in therapy or psychological interventions or discourage you from going for it.

• Overmedication diagnosis: Their response to your every concern is prescribing more medication without enough discussion/explanation, and jumping quickly to diagnosis without hearing you out or discussing the situation with you.

An efficient and good practice when it comes to treating mental illnesses with a psychiatrist is always done in collaboration with a therapist or a counsellor and not solely through medication or in isolation from psychological support and interventions.

By Nancy, an intern at The Alternative Story