Depression and PTSD treatment

GilGrissom

I have been diagnosed with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by my physcologist and he has recommended that I go on medication and receive threapy as treatment.

I went back to my GP with the diagnosis and he refuses to perscribe me any anti depressants at all. I really don't know what to do as the physcologist says I won't get better without treatment and my GP is denying me.

Any advice?

Thanks
Gil

Odysseus

If you feel that you need meds why not tell your GP that you are requesting a referral to a psychiatrist, that way if you really need meds you could get them. Did your GP explain why he feel meds were not required or did he just say no?

nesf

Get a referral to a psychiatrist from your GP. I'm not sure if the psychologist should be telling you that you should go on medication, they should send a letter to your GP about that (I think anyway).

eth0_

It's not really for a psychologist to tell you you should be on medication.

If your depression is a result of PTSD I would have thought therapy would work a lot better for you. Anti-depressants might make you feel better (often they do not), but you will still have an underlying unhappiness or anxiety because of whatever experience caused the PTSD.

Odysseus

eth0_ wrote:

It's not really for a psychologist to tell you you should be on medication.

I agree however I think its important to note the maybe the psychologist didn't tell him he needed meds. I work with a team of medics and may suggest that the client speak to their doctor about the role of meds, I'm saying this as it is often the case that they said I stated they need meds, thankfuuly I work closely with the doctors so they know that is not the case. As I'm sure you know clients will often take what they want to hear from what you say.

nesf

Odysseus wrote:

I agree however I think its important to note the maybe the psychologist didn't tell him he needed meds. I work with a team of medics and may suggest that the client speak to their doctor about the role of meds, I'm saying this as it is often the case that they said I stated they need meds, thankfuuly I work closely with the doctors so they know that is not the case. As I'm sure you know clients will often take what they want to hear from what you say.

Yeah, there is an important difference there. I could see how a GP might be a bit miffed by a non-doctor suggesting medication though.

Odysseus

nesf wrote:

Yeah, there is an important difference there. I could see how a GP might be a bit miffed by a non-doctor suggesting medication though.

I understand you point my main interest is co-morbidity. Some people suggest that there is a duty of care in making sure that in addtion to getting psycholoical help from us, that we should suggest other interventions if required. However, it is up to the other professional then to decide. I often get referrals from non-psychotherapeutic professionals telling me what what the want done, so it does work many ways if you see my point. With this of course I take into account my last post:)

GilGrissom

Thanks for the repsonses folks, it is really appreciated.

I have received the written report from him and he mentions meds in that. I do think I would benefit from therapy but this is taking time as appointments in the public health system are hard to come by.

I think I will go back to the psychiatrist (he sent me to the psychologist) and ask his opinion.

Thanks again for all the support.

Odysseus

GilGrissom wrote:

I think I will go back to the psychiatrist (he sent me to the psychologist) and ask his opinion.

That sounds like the best option to me. Best of luck with it.

jtsuited

surprised the GP didn't want to prescribe antidepressants - from what we read these days, I thought they jumped at the oppurtunity!

A psychiatrist will probably prescribe you something (provided you are willing).

Although probably handier to find a new GP. Chances of a second one refusing to prescribe you an AD are slim.

Archeron

See another GP and get another opinion. I have found it incredible the levels of boredom and apathy regarding mental health in this country.

DawnMc

I have recently done a dissertation on PTSD and plead with you not to go on medication!!! <mod edit:> IN MY OPINION </mod edit> Psychotherapy is the most beneficial tool in the treatment of PTSD. Drugs will just block off the pain for a while and then when you come off the drugs, it comes back!!! Hope this helps

jtsuited

DawnMc wrote: »

I have recently done a dissertation on PTSD and plead with you not to go on medication!!! Psychotherapy is the most beneficial tool in the treatment of PTSD. Drugs will just block off the pain for a while and then when you come off the drugs, it comes back!!! Hope this helps

and you are studying what?

from what i've read the ssri's have been found to be very effective in treating PTSD.
for example http://www.ct.gov/msp/lib/msp/training/combatstress.pdf

dawnmc, your post is a little bit OTT for a forum like this.

Odysseus

DawnMc wrote: »

I have recently done a dissertation on PTSD and plead with you not to go on medication!!! Psychotherapy is the most beneficial tool in the treatment of PTSD. Drugs will just block off the pain for a while and then when you come off the drugs, it comes back!!! Hope this helps

To be fair at what level did you do your dissertation at? Degree, masters, PhD?

What is your actual clinical experience? Why would you suggest not to go on meds over the internet, the most responsible thing is to suggest another professional. I'm not having a go at you but when you have no clinical knowledge of the person in question the safest thing to do is suggest professional help, whilst I agree you that psychotherapy is the way to go, as a psychotherapist myself it is up to my client and the prescriber to decide wheather meds are appropriate or not.

eth0_

DawnMc wrote: »

I have recently done a dissertation on PTSD and plead with you not to go on medication!!! Psychotherapy is the most beneficial tool in the treatment of PTSD. Drugs will just block off the pain for a while and then when you come off the drugs, it comes back!!! Hope this helps

On their own, I can see your point that drugs aren't the answer for PTSD but it depends on the case. Some people can get their head together on their own with a little help from anti-depressants. Others can be helped with therapy alone. Others need combination treatment of drugs and therapy.

You can't make a sweeping statement like that - every patient is individual and has differing needs.

I hope your dissertation wasn't part of your training to be a psychologist because you have a strange attitude to drugs.

DawnMc

Odysseus wrote: »

To be fair at what level did you do your dissertation at? Degree, masters, PhD?

What is your actual clinical experience? Why would you suggest not to go on meds over the internet, the most responsible thing is to suggest another professional. I'm not having a go at you but when you have no clinical knowledge of the person in question the safest thing to do is suggest professional help, whilst I agree you that psychotherapy is the way to go, as a psychotherapist myself it is up to my client and the prescriber to decide wheather meds are appropriate or not.

I am also a psychotherapist and suppose I should have noted that it was just my opinion and not to actually go by it! Did my masters specifically on it. Have worked therapeutically for six years and have seen drugs do absolutely no good for the people with PTSD that I have encountered so it is by no means a 'sweeping statment'. By god, people on this site love to have a go :rolleyes:

jtsuited

DawnMc wrote: »

I am also a psychotherapist and suppose I should have noted that it was just my opinion and not to actually go by it! Did my masters specifically on it. Have worked therapeutically for six years and have seen drugs do absolutely no good for the people with PTSD that I have encountered so it is by no means a 'sweeping statment'. By god, people on this site love to have a go :rolleyes:

and how many other studies on PTSD and SSRI's did you read?

eth0_

DawnMc wrote: »

I am also a psychotherapist and suppose I should have noted that it was just my opinion and not to actually go by it! Did my masters specifically on it. Have worked therapeutically for six years and have seen drugs do absolutely no good for the people with PTSD that I have encountered so it is by no means a 'sweeping statment'. By god, people on this site love to have a go :rolleyes:

If you've only recently done your dissertation what qualifications have you been working off for the past six years?

It sounds to me like you have not have dealt with anyone with severe PTSD.

Some people have such bad anxiety with PTSD that they can barely leave the house or can't hold down a job. It takes months for most people to get an appointment with a therapist, and I think drug intervention during this time is a good idea if it helps the patient feel better and be in a better frame of mind for receiving therapy!

Odysseus

DawnMc wrote: »

I am also a psychotherapist and suppose I should have noted that it was just my opinion and not to actually go by it! Did my masters specifically on it. Have worked therapeutically for six years and have seen drugs do absolutely no good for the people with PTSD that I have encountered so it is by no means a 'sweeping statment'. By god, people on this site love to have a go :rolleyes:

I generally try to avoid this type of tag-posting, but to be fair I did state that I wasn't having a go at you, but it did come across as a sweeping statement to me inanyway. Maybe its just me, but I think we should be very careful what we say to people here who are seeking advice, we are not here as professionals,[for those of us that are] but at the same time we use our professional knowledge if you see what I mean, especially as we know little if anuthing about the person. Anyway just stateing that I wasn't having a go at you in particular.

nesf

DawnMc wrote: »

Have worked therapeutically for six years and have seen drugs do absolutely no good for the people with PTSD that I have encountered so it is by no means a 'sweeping statment'.

You said:

DawnMc wrote: »

Psychotherapy is the most beneficial tool in the treatment of PTSD.

Which is a fine sweeping statement if ever I saw one. People aren't having a go at you personally, they are questioning you post which they are perfectly entitled to do. This is a discussion forum after all.