GP's and Anti-Depressants Important Info

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone! New Posters are very welcome to share your experiences with a GP too!

I had an appointment yesterday with my GP. He is aware of what I do on the Beyond Blue forums. I asked him about anti depressants and how he treats his patients with depression/ anxiety and why some GP's dont prescribe meds. This is what I learned yesterday from one doctor.

• He has always had an interest in depression and anxiety and prescribes AD's where the symptoms fit the criteria to do so
• He will refer to a psychiatrist if a patient shows symptoms of a more 'complex' mental illness and not prescribe meds himself
• Some GP's have little interest in 'getting involved' with depression and will refer to a psychiatrist with little if any discussion
• He isnt 'pro meds' or 'anti-meds' He treats depression as a serious illness with meds to improve his patients health & well being

• He mentioned that a pro-active GP can know more about AD's than some psychiatrists as GP's have more frequent patient contact

It did surprise me that some GP's have little or no interest in treating depression. I hope these GP's are in the minority.

I am interested to know any good or not so good experiences other people have had with a GP. I posted this thread originally so any people with untreated depression/anxiety have a better understanding of how experiences with a GP can be positive step towards recovery.

All your thoughts are most welcome

Thankyou for taking the time to read my thread

Kind thoughts

Paul

[PatT]

Hi Paul,

I've found this to be pretty accurate from my own experiences. Some GP's look at you with a deadpan expression, get you to fill out a mental health scale, print you off a mental health plan, prescribe you the most generic SSRI available and tell you to find a psych and touch base in a month or so. These are most generally at the bulk-billing GPs that get a huge influx of patients every day, though not always.

It really sucks that mental health is kind of treated as a second-class illness by some and as a completely foreign one. It's good that more GPs are undertaking courses on it these days though, but still...progress to be made.

Pat

[blondguy]

Hi Pat...Thanks for responding:-) I had some time spare yesterday so I just asked him 'how it worked'...Like yourself I was surprised to learn what I did about some GP's 'handballing' people like us to a psychiatrist when it can be handled 'in house' by a GP. Great to have a chat to you Pat..My best....Paul

[Synapse]

Hey Paul,

Great post! I reckon it's fantastic that you asked your GP about anti-depressants.

By the sounds of it, your GP seems to be very forward thinking and adept at working with patients who have mental health issues.

As for my own personal experience, I was very lucky to have a GP who was knowledgeable and empathetic to my issues. If I remember correctly, he prescribed me a few types of anti-depressants and we ended up settling with SSRIs. He also formulated a mental health care plan and wrote up a referral for me to see a Clinical Psychologist.

It appears that I was quite lucky in my case. Unfortunately, your GP is correct in saying that some clinicians care little about mental health issues. It's an unfortunate truth, but hopefully this is limited to a small number of practitioners.

Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂

Ken.

[blondguy]

Hi Ken, Thankyou for your post and opinion on this matter...You are like myself..we are very lucky people to have a crackerjack GP. I never thought I would be 'interviewing' my own GP on this awful illness. What a positive and very kind compliment too Ken:-)....Thankyou so much...Look forward to having a chat with you! My Best....Paul

[JessF]

Hello Paul, it sounds like you have found a good one. I have found GPs to be generally very good with mental health but I accept I have had a good run. I have seen a few psychiatrists along the way, and all have been pretty terrible, but I accept I have probably had a bad run there. The main difference I found between the GPs and the psychiatrists was what we quaintly used to call 'bedside manner'. The GPs I have seen listen, the psychiatrists I have found to be very cold and fixated on their checklists, and very 'you will do this' when it comes to medication. I remember arguing with one extensively about a medication he had put me on that was making me quite unwell, and it's the only time I've ever cried in an appointment because he made me feel so belittled in having to beg to be taken off a treatment. I did not go back.

With the GPs being the first time someone will be seeing a health professional about their depression or other mental illness I would hope that awareness is being raised across the board. I can understand Pat's comment about the bulk billing ones making you feel rushed. I would suggest to anyone reading that if they are going to see their GP about mental health related things to book a double appointment, you won't get through everything you need to talk about in 10 or 15 minutes.

[blondguy]

Hello Jess, your experience is very similar to mine. I have also found the psychiatrists too patronising and 'non involved' during what I thought was going to be therapy. That 'specialist' you had to 'beg' and becoming upset speaks volumes of how 'disconnected' some of them can be despite their many years of study and training.

JessF said: " I would suggest to anyone reading that if they are going to see their
GP about mental health related things to book a double appointment, you
won't get through everything you need to talk about in 10 or 15 minutes."

Thankyou for replying and your advice too Jess, Paul

[Novicemum]

Hi Paul. I asked for a double session with my daughters new GP as I needed to share with her everything that's going on with my daughter,also to make sure she is being honest with the GP too. I asked many people if they know GPs with mental health experience but ended up taking her to see her cousins GP. She was brilliant for him (saved his life,can we ask for more?) and hopefully will be successful with my child. She was "lecturing" in the kindest way possible,but still explaining re exercise,diet and sleep and their importance in balancing our mental and physical health. I've since got my child on an exercise bike for 15 min a day. Some days I can't be there to make her do it,so we do double the next time. I'm currently looking at clinics in Queensland for her,but don't know of any feedback as to their success rate. She's not working but is getting out of bed most days.

[blondguy]

Hi Novicemum...you are no novice from what I can see 🙂 I see a really kind and wonderful mum.

Thankyou for replying. The double appt you made is so productive as well as "to make sure that your daughter is being honest with the GP too"....That is a great point!

What a legend of a GP to care that much that she saved his life. It fascinates me how some GP's have an active interest in mental illness and some dont. You are doing really well...exercise bike....and your daughter is also getting out and about most days...that is a huge plus.

You are right about finding a GP using word of mouth. The success rate is hard to ascertain but finding a GP who has an 'interest' or understands mental health is always a huge step in the right direction.

It would be great if you could post back NM. You are doing everything possible and well too:-)

My Best for you and your daughter

Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Novicemum

Sorry for the double post. I am just popping in to see how you are going? Have you had any joy in your search for a good GP in Queensland?

My Kind Thoughts

Paulx