My psychiatrists says anti depressants don't work

Was there more context to that statement? Was he saying anti depressants don't work for anyone, ever? OR that it wouldn't work for you because you have treatment-resistive depression or something?

Does seem a bit of an odd thing to say tbh

He was saying that for anyone, there is no evidence that anti depressants work and it is mostly just a placebo affect or something. I'm not really sure.... but when I first started seeing him I was on anti depressants and he took me off them all and refuses to prescribe me them lol. He didn't mean just me though, he was talking about people in general.

Well he's kinda right - it's very hard to definitively say that it's definitely an antidepressant that has made the difference, if someone's symptoms begin to improve. Plus there have been studies that show that those given a placebo recover just as quickly - if not more quickly - from certain illnesses.

However, I do think your psychiatrist is playing a very dangerous game with you. When you were on the antidepressants, did you feel they were working? Have you noticed a difference now that you're not on antidepressants?

If he's outright refusing to prescribe them, I'd try and request a change of psychiatrist, to be perfectly honest

Overall, it is, frankly, a ludicrous statement from a mental health professional.

Presumably you are/were a patient and this statement may well be relevant to you or your symptoms, not 'everyone' Out of context its very difficult for anyone else to comment - ie, which antidepressants, for which conditions, what is meant by 'work' etc etc.

Anti-depressants are a vital medication for many thousands of people and allow them to function despite a wide range of mental health conditions. Its about as sensible as saying 'washing powder doesn't work' - it all depends which washing powder and what you are using it for.

Yeah, I've had my doubts. I really can't decide but I found it interesting that a psychiatrist would say that as they kinda are all about prescribing meds so I thought I'd see what others think. I didn't think they were working when I was on them so I didn't mind being taken off however I have become a lot more unwell since being off them - he says it is a coincidence but I can't work it out personally. It's worth mentioning that my diagnosis isn't actually depression - it is borderline personality disorder & "symptoms of ptsd" whatever that means. My anxiety is very severe as well - my support worker says "If you don't have an anxiety disorder I don't know who does" He has just started me on quetiapine this week.

I am *supposed* to be changing psychs but god knows how long it will take - to be honest I have no faith in this one. He tells me he doesn't understand what services are out there to refer me into and tells me he isn't sure how to get me a care co-ordinator even though every professional working with me tells me I need one.... so it may just be that he is a bit dim (which wouldn't surprise me

Excuse my language here but if he doesn't know how to get you a care coordinator, he's a ****ing moron. You don't need to put up with **** like this. I'd push to find out exactly when you are changing psychiatrists. This one sounds seriously inept and dodgy. You need proper care and now!!!

Don't be afraid to be assertive. Write complaint letters if you need to

Thanks, I really do think he is very stupid. I have no faith in him. Surely if you didn't know that then you would spend an hour or so asking people and finding out rather than just keep on being clueless? Me and my support worker tried to push him on it when we saw him and said "So will you find me a care co-ordinator by next appt then?" and he just said "yes Im going to try and refer you" but he has been saying that since october at least. I am also supposed to be getting a female psych as a male is not appropriate for me due to my ptsd symptoms and I refuse to be alone with him which is why my support worker takes me. He wont refer me to both a care co-ordinator and a new psych at once though as he said it looks bad on him that he is offloading me? So he is only trying to do one thing at a time? Idk it baffles me really.

:hug:

I wonder if chicken wings would work.

OMG, he ACTUALLY SAID THAT?!?!?!?!!?!

Def complain if you feel at all able to. You don't deserve to be treated like this! Argh, my blood is boiling on your behalf! Can't imagine how confused and angry you must feel!

Female psychiatrist definitely sounds like a better option. I don't have PTSD as such (well I think I do, they just won't diagnose it, grrr) but I have insisted on an all-female care team, and you are well within your rights to do the same!

Yeah every time I see him I get really annoyed because I just think if he would put some effort in he could help me a billion times more. He referred me to a group thing but when I told him about how it's been he was like "oh this wasn't what I thought it was" but still told me I should keep going anyway. It's so stupid. I just want to get referred on to a female psych and get a care co-ordinator. That's it. We are trying to sort it out. I'm glad it isn't just me that thinks it's really ridiculous!

Thanks, I really do think he is very stupid. I have no faith in him. Surely if you didn't know that then you would spend an hour or so asking people and finding out rather than just keep on being clueless? Me and my support worker tried to push him on it when we saw him and said "So will you find me a care co-ordinator by next appt then?" and he just said "yes Im going to try and refer you" but he has been saying that since october at least. I am also supposed to be getting a female psych as a male is not appropriate for me due to my ptsd symptoms and I refuse to be alone with him which is why my support worker takes me. He wont refer me to both a care co-ordinator and a new psych at once though as he said it looks bad on him that he is offloading me? So he is only trying to do one thing at a time? Idk it baffles me really.

:hug:

He was saying that for anyone, there is no evidence that anti depressants work and it is mostly just a placebo affect or something. I'm not really sure.... but when I first started seeing him I was on anti depressants and he took me off them all and refuses to prescribe me them lol. He didn't mean just me though, he was talking about people in general.

Yeah every time I see him I get really annoyed because I just think if he would put some effort in he could help me a billion times more. He referred me to a group thing but when I told him about how it's been he was like "oh this wasn't what I thought it was" but still told me I should keep going anyway. It's so stupid. I just want to get referred on to a female psych and get a care co-ordinator. That's it. We are trying to sort it out. I'm glad it isn't just me that thinks it's really ridiculous!