Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 In a message dated 4/8/2003 7:46:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, wsotis@... writes: > Hi, > > My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us to go to a > psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble finding a child > > psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk County, Long > Island, NY) > > She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . Is a > psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd rather try > other methods first before medications, and she said that if she wanted to > medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. She > couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm really > confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. > > Thanks, > > Wendi, I'm not sure why she would say that either....did she give you a referral to someone she thinks is qualified to evaluate for Autistic Spectrum Disorders? I hate it when doctors get vague. My regular ped sent us to a developmental and behavioral pediatrician. We got the dx from her, but the visit was short and I already had an appt with a well known child pyschiatrist (recommended from the ped neurologist we had recently seen). Both saw Joe and came up with two dx's. I guess the child psychiatrist was a good pick from the neurologist standpoint as she was well known in the ASD, also was in the same teaching hospital. It might have been just a preference especially if she didn't specify.... I plan on taking Joe to a neuropsychologist that specializes in ASD next year before he goes into Kintergarden. They do a more thorough evaluation from what I have heard. Do you have any teaching hospitals near you? I hope I haven't confused you further! I would go see someone who has a LOT of experience with children and Autistic Spectrum Disorders. That would be key. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.... Johanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 Wendi, My son's school paid for the psychiatrist when he was evaluated. You can call your insurance company ( as I had) and they can give you a list. Unfortunately the one that accepted our insurance was number six on the list of recommended therapists in our area. He last therapist was a 45 min drive and it took alot of time from his after school work. Good luck, ( ) psychiatrist? Hi, My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us to go to a psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble finding a child psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk County, Long Island, NY) She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . Is a psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd rather try other methods first before medications, and she said that if she wanted to medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. She couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm really confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. Thanks, Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 This is a very good question (in my humble opionion). When we took Jim to the hospital, they kept asking us if Jim had ever seen a psychiatrist. They couldn't seem to understand why we " only " took him to a psychologist. Made me curious. No one ever told us we need a psychiatrist before. Kathy H in IN Jim, 13. AS & ADHD ( ) psychiatrist? > Hi, > > My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us to go to a > psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble finding a child > psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk County, Long > Island, NY) > > She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . Is a > psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd rather try > other methods first before medications, and she said that if she wanted to > medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. She > couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm really > confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. > > Thanks, > Wendi > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 Hey! I even work at a mental health center and don't know! In an online dictionary, this is what I picked up, but don't know if this is all there is to it - psychiatrist is a physician. The definition for the psychiatrist: A physician who specializes in psychiatry. Psychiatry: branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. Psychologist: A person trained and educated to perform psychological research, testing, and therapy. Psychology: The science that deals with mental processes and behavior. > This is a very good question (in my humble opionion). When we took Jim to > the hospital, they kept asking us if Jim had ever seen a psychiatrist. They > couldn't seem to understand why we " only " took him to a psychologist. Made > me curious. No one ever told us we need a psychiatrist before. > > Kathy H in IN > Jim, 13. AS & ADHD > > > ( ) psychiatrist? > > > > Hi, > > > > My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us to go to a > > psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble finding a > child > > psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk County, Long > > Island, NY) > > > > She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . Is a > > psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd rather try > > other methods first before medications, and she said that if she wanted to > > medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. She > > couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm really > > confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. > > > > Thanks, > > Wendi > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 A psychiatrist I know is authorized to prescribe medication; a psychologist is not. A pyschologist is more suited to therapy, counseling, testing, etc. I think, I'm not sure. Theresa On Tue, 08 Apr 2003 17:06:13 -0000 " " <@...> writes: > Hey! I even work at a mental health center and don't know! > > In an online dictionary, this is what I picked up, but don't know if > > this is all there is to it - psychiatrist is a physician. > > The definition for the psychiatrist: > A physician who specializes in psychiatry. > > Psychiatry: branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, > treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. > > Psychologist: A person trained and educated to perform > psychological > research, testing, and therapy. > > Psychology: The science that deals with mental processes and > behavior. > > > > > > > > > This is a very good question (in my humble opionion). When we > took > Jim to > > the hospital, they kept asking us if Jim had ever seen a > psychiatrist. They > > couldn't seem to understand why we " only " took him to a > psychologist. Made > > me curious. No one ever told us we need a psychiatrist before. > > > > Kathy H in IN > > Jim, 13. AS & ADHD > > > > > > ( ) psychiatrist? > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us > > to go to a > > > psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble > finding a > > child > > > psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk > County, Long > > > Island, NY) > > > > > > She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . > > Is a > > > psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd > rather try > > > other methods first before medications, and she said that if she > > wanted to > > > medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. > She > > > couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm > really > > > confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Wendi > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 Wendi, Could you go to the psychiatrist (out of network) once to get a diagnosis, then go back to the pediatric neurologist for meds? I know how hard it is to find a psychiatrist that's in network. We settled on one who's out of network. But ds only sees him every 3 months or so. The really good shrinks around here have stopped accepting health insurance. :-( Liz Wendi Sotis wrote: > Hi, > > My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us to go to a > psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble finding a child > psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk County, Long > Island, NY) > > She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . Is a > psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd rather try > other methods first before medications, and she said that if she wanted to > medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. She > couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm really > confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. > > Thanks, > Wendi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 > Wendi, > Could you go to the psychiatrist (out of network) once to get a diagnosis, > then go back to the pediatric neurologist for meds? I know how hard it is to > find a psychiatrist that's in network. We settled on one who's out of network. > But ds only sees him every 3 months or so. The really good shrinks around here > have stopped accepting health insurance. :-( > Liz aaarrgghhhh...that's a frustrating issue. We have experienced this with our HMO. When we decided to get OT for sensory integration dysfunction, the OT we went to, " the best " by everyone's recommendation, was not in the network. So we paid for it ourselves. Given that the OT was only covered for six weeks anyway, we saw no point in staying in the network and going to someone who wasn't as qualified. Now we are taking to see a psychologist who specializes in Asperger syndrome kids... " the best. " Naturally, he's not in the network....more out-of-pocket expenses. If people only knew the stress these kids place on us, financial and emotional. <sigh> And, it's especially painful when you have two kids with issues. I have sometimes found myself postponing pursuing things for my younger son simply because his brother's needs are greater and there is only so much money to go around. The psychiatrist that prescribes 's meds (in the network) is far more focused on writing his records when we come in than on getting to know . It's actually quite painful to watch. I think they both have Asperger Syndrome!! LOL! I have to sit there and play interpreter for them. However, he did give us that Asperger Diagnosis without any hassle, and given what I've read the rest of you have gone through to get it, I am grateful to him for that - even if he IS useless for everything else. I could never in a million years see getting any benefit from talking to him. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 > A psychiatrist I know is authorized to prescribe medication; a > psychologist is not. A pyschologist is more suited to therapy, > counseling, testing, etc. I think, I'm not sure. > > Theresa you are 100% correct! F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 Wendi, Since psychiatrist is also medically trained, perhaps she wants to rule any other things out?? Or maybe a diagnosis from a psychiatrist might fit insurance better, don't know. Basically psychiatrists just monitor medication, don't do therapy, so a visit to them is to see how meds are doing, patient doing, OK, doesn't take long. > Hi, > > My first question. Why would the pediatric neurologist want us to go to a > psychiatrist instead of a psychologist? I'm having trouble finding a child > psychiatrist in my area that accepts our insurance (Suffolk County, Long > Island, NY) > > She only said she was confused about how to diagnose . Is a > psychiatrist better to diagnose hard-to-dx cases? I said I'd rather try > other methods first before medications, and she said that if she wanted to > medicate she could do that herself...so that's not the reason. She > couldn't put into words why a psychiatrist, though, so I'm really > confused. She would only say that's who we should go to. > > Thanks, > Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2003 Report Share Posted April 9, 2003 In a message dated 4/8/03 3:50:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, beitchazen@... writes: > >A psychiatrist I know is authorized to prescribe medication; a > >psychologist is not. A pyschologist is more suited to therapy, > >counseling, testing, etc. I think, I'm not sure. > > > >Theresa > > you are 100% correct! > My older son was dx'd by a child psychiatrist working at a children's hospital. She was supposed to be " the best " at figuring out what was going on with kids. She did a very thorough job with it all, I feel. I think one thing to remember is that AS is a dx where you are asking for a professional's opinion as to whether the child fits the criteria for a dx. Some doc's take this seriously and really get to know the child inside and out! Others take one look and decide. I've seen a doc who was supposed to have a big reputation and he was awful. I've had other doc's take over a month of testing and be thorough. So my point is that any doc or any psychologist is only as good as what they know and understand about AS/HFA and other disorders that are similar. A child psychiatrist should know a heck of a lot about kids and quirks and disorders. Maybe that is why the doc is insisting on one? Roxanna ôô What doesn't kill us Makes us really mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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