can you visit a psychiatrist without being refered by a doctor

Cynortas

Hi all just a quick question to ask here can you see a psychiatrist without being refered by a doctor ???? i have anxiety disorder and do not want to go to my doctor first is it possible also is there a good psychiatrist in the limerick area as well any help will be appricated

zef

AFAIK you can make an appt with a private psychiatrist without a dr reference.
I believe a private psych is quite expensive- but you could be waiting a while to see a public one anyway if referred by dr to local Mental Health Team.
Good luck, I have anxety too, its horrible.

JuliusCaesar

Generally there isn't a long wait for public psychiatric clinics. Many places have New Patient Clinics once a week. You need a GP referral to the public psychiatrist who is free.

You don't need a referral to see a private psychiatrist.

hadas

Hi there!

Do you really want to go the medication route? If so, a good GP can actually prescribe. Otherwise, maybe explore cognitive behavioural therapy or any other therapy to help you address some issues that could be underlying your anxiety?

angeline

Normally a doctor refers you to a psychiatrist (even private) if he/she feels the issue is above that which he/she can treat. The more complex the nature the more likely you will be referred to a psychiatrist. But psychiatrists do not provide counselling, they merely provide medication, especially when it comes to mixing medications, etc. Perhaps you should start with your GP and perhaps ask for the names of some good psychotherapists. Going directly to a psychiatrist for anxiety is a bit extreme in my opinion.

krd

angeline wrote: »

Perhaps you should start with your GP and perhaps ask for the names of some good psychotherapists.

Some people would not feel comfortable talking with their GPs about these kinds of issues.

Going directly to a psychiatrist for anxiety is a bit extreme in my opinion.

For someone suffering from severe anxiety, everything can be extreme.

They may self-diagnose themselves as having an anxiety disorder.

angeline

The OP does not have to discuss his/her anxiety in detail with the GP. But the GP is best equipped to provide names of reputable psychotherapists. It is not a good idea for people to self diagnose. Going to a GP you are comfortable with is generally a good starting point and the GP can decide if the anxiety is so severe it requires treatment by a psychiatrist.

JuliusCaesar

Angeline, psychiatrists often refer people to psychologists and psychotherapists and counsellors. Psychiatrists can refer peope to psychologists and psychotherapists and counsellors who work in the HSE and so can be attended free of charge. Most psychiatrists are not in the business of 'only' prescribing medication. :rolleyes:

angeline

@juliusceasar Most psychiatrists specialise in complex cases where a combination of medications are required. A GP cannot do this. It is a widely held belief and one that is often debated that psychiatrists are mainly interested in prescribing medications. That is my opinion and belief. Anyway, that is a discussion for another thread. I was merely advising the OP that a psychiatrist may not be the best route to take.

bisset

Are you sure that a psychiatrist is what you want. If your problem is mainly anxiety then maybe seeing a clinical psychologist would be of benefit. There are HSE psychologists in primary care based at local health centres. In some areas I think you can self refer

krd

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Angeline, psychiatrists often refer people to psychologists and psychotherapists and counsellors. Psychiatrists can refer peope to psychologists and psychotherapists and counsellors who work in the HSE and so can be attended free of charge. Most psychiatrists are not in the business of 'only' prescribing medication. :rolleyes:

What the op needs, and is really looking for, is an evaluation by a mental health professional.

I would be wary of GPs.

angeline

I guess it depends on the GP and your relationship with him/her. I am very fortunate to have an excellent GP who I have developed a great rapport with. So, for me, I guess that is why I would go to my GP first. But I understand that not all people may be as lucky as me. And as above poster correctly pointed, what the OP needs is a mental health evaluation.