The Changing Face of Psychiatry

MARCH 8, 2011

To the Editor:

The psychiatrist featured in your article describes himself as a “mechanic” and his office as a “bus station” where patients, seen for 15 minutes, are discouraged from talking about their lives. What a sad state of affairs!

While he has figured out how to play the game, there are no winners here. Practicing a “mindless” psychiatry is dehumanizing for patient and doctor.

Some patients need medication, some talk therapy and some both; all need to be given time in an unhurried way to establish an empathic bond and strong working alliance with their doctor.

If we as psychiatrists devalue the importance of giving adequate time to deal with the whole person, or are corrupted by an insurance industry that does, we have lost our souls.

Larry S. Sandberg
New York, March 6, 2011