Depression Learning

Clinic Woes…

Question:

Hi All… As many of you know, I typically encourage anxiety/panic sufferers to seek help at university hospital clinics. I often refer people to such clinics because I know the doctors at these clinics are best informed with regard to the psychology and medicine of anxiety and panic disorders. However, I’ve lately recieved a number of e-mails from people who find such clinics difficult or impossible to gain access to. Typical rejections regard failure to qualify for research programs. Rejected individuals are typically referred to other treatment programs, which are often highly expensive and often beyond the already stressed finances of common sufferers. The only other alternative for sufferers is private practice doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists; who, as is well known, are usually under or mis-informed regarding the current knowledge in anxiety/panic disorders; which leads to clumsy treatment strategies, prolonged illness, and further financial hardships. I have not studied this situation and I must admit my observations are anecdotal, so I can’t claim that there is a definite health crisis here. Nonetheless, I find this situation very disturbing and feel it is worth serious scrutiny and possible action.                                         Best Wishes,                                         Arthur

Response:

stated – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi All… As many of you know, I typically encourage anxiety/panic sufferers to seek help at university hospital clinics. I often refer people to such clinics because I know the doctors at these clinics are best informed with regard to the psychology and medicine of anxiety and panic disorders. However, I’ve lately recieved a number of e-mails from people who find such clinics difficult or impossible to gain access to. Typical rejections regard failure to qualify for research programs.

Research programs?  Are you referring to programs such as Princeton Biomedical, where they treat people with newer meds for research? Rejected individuals are typically referred to other treatment programs, which are often highly expensive and often beyond the already stressed finances of common sufferers.

I know you are in the Philly area, are there any Mental health clinic there? Here in NJ we have some of these Clinics which take about 6 weeks to get into (a lifetime to a sufferer of P/A).  These clinic are inexpensive and staffed with mostly social workers.  And after an allotted ammount of time patients are "let go" weather they are better not because there are other people who need to be seen by the social workers.  I went to a clinic like this for 9 months and then told my time was up.  It didn’t matter if I was better or not.  Then I went to Catholic charities for more counciling, I went there for 2 years and was switched to 5 different social workers while there.  I missed 3 appointments in 2 years and was told I could not come back because of missing those appointments.  So I was left high and dry and could not afford a private practice.  Still can’t. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The only other alternative for sufferers is private practice doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists; who, as is well known, are usually under or mis-informed regarding the current knowledge in anxiety/panic disorders; which leads to clumsy treatment strategies, prolonged illness, and further financial hardships. I have not studied this situation and I must admit my observations are anecdotal, so I can’t claim that there is a definite health crisis here. Nonetheless, I find this situation very disturbing and feel it is worth serious scrutiny and possible action.                                    Best Wishes,                                    Arthur

I just spoke to a woman last week who was in terrible shape and was trying to get into a clinic in St. Francis center.  She had just moved here (south NJ) from northern NJ and her counceler from NNJ was trying to get her in the St francis center with no luck.  They actually refused to see her with no explination why. IMO there is definately a problem. Cathy P.H.O.B.I.A. People Helping Others Become Independent Again Off-line Panic/anxiety Support Group, New Jersey Learn about us at http://community.nj.com/cc/phobia

Response:

 I live in Bucks County PA myself and have a HMO thru my husband now as I can only work part time now due to a year of increase in my anxiety/panic/depression. The only place I am allowed to go is our county mental health clinic. It sounds an awful lot like what PHOBIA describes..I see a doctor for a med check once a month and a social worker for some talk therapy *eyeroll* maybe every six weeks..the doctor is apparently highly anxious herself in regards to the usage of benzos..it took eight months on 40 mgs of Paxil, adding BuSpar and me getting to the point of being unable to leave the house again to convince her to try xanax and she appears to believe that .5mgs twice a day should be more than enough for anyone so I spend my days trying to figure out which times I should take it so that I can function and what I should just forget about trying to do since my days last 16 to 18 hours and my xanax lasts 10 -12 on a good day. (Theres no prn prescribing they write you exactly the amount you "should" need). I am suffering terribly and getting very depressed of course and wish I could just go to another doctor who would prescribe the proper amount of xanax and possibly a tricyclic which I had great success with years ago and not treat me like a drug addict for needing the xanax. If I knew in advance that a private psychiatrist would actually understand my disorders I would even find the money to go to one since our HMO wouldnt cover it. But 120$ is a lot of money to spend to find yet another doctor who thinks benzos are the devils work and that asking you how you are doing this month is the answer. I am not eligible for treatment at the two Philadelphia clinics that I am aware of…because I have an HMO and Im out of the area. Argh. May – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – stated Hi All… As many of you know, I typically encourage anxiety/panic sufferers to seek help at university hospital clinics. I often refer people to such clinics because I know the doctors at these clinics are best informed with regard to the psychology and medicine of anxiety and panic disorders. However, I’ve lately recieved a number of e-mails from people who find such clinics difficult or impossible to gain access to. Typical rejections regard failure to qualify for research programs. Research programs?  Are you referring to programs such as Princeton Biomedical, where they treat people with newer meds for research? Rejected individuals are typically referred to other treatment programs, which are often highly expensive and often beyond the already stressed finances of common sufferers. I know you are in the Philly area, are there any Mental health clinic there? Here in NJ we have some of these Clinics which take about 6 weeks to get into (a lifetime to a sufferer of P/A).  These clinic are inexpensive and staffed with mostly social workers.  And after an allotted ammount of time patients are "let go" weather they are better not because there are other people who need to be seen by the social workers.  I went to a clinic like this for 9 months and then told my time was up.  It didn’t matter if I was better or not.  Then I went to Catholic charities for more counciling, I went there for 2 years and was switched to 5 different social workers while there.  I missed 3 appointments in 2 years and was told I could not come back because of missing those appointments.  So I was left high and dry and could not afford a private practice.  Still can’t. The only other alternative for sufferers is private practice doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists; who, as is well known, are usually under or mis-informed regarding the current knowledge in anxiety/panic disorders; which leads to clumsy treatment strategies, prolonged illness, and further financial hardships. I have not studied this situation and I must admit my observations are anecdotal, so I can’t claim that there is a definite health crisis here. Nonetheless, I find this situation very disturbing and feel it is worth serious scrutiny and possible action.                                       Best Wishes,                                       Arthur I just spoke to a woman last week who was in terrible shape and was trying to get into a clinic in St. Francis center.  She had just moved here (south NJ) from northern NJ and her counceler from NNJ was trying to get her in the St francis center with no luck.  They actually refused to see her with no explination why. IMO there is definately a problem. Cathy P.H.O.B.I.A. People Helping Others Become Independent Again Off-line Panic/anxiety Support Group, New Jersey Learn about us at http://community.nj.com/cc/phobia

– "The problem with the rat race is even if you win you’re still a rat."                         – Lily Tomlin

Response:

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