Psychiatric Times Vol 19 No 12

Expensive Friend

I try to make him an ordinary patient with a list of drugs and diagnoses strung together in a necklace of initials: CAD, CABG, DM2, HTN.

There is no doubt that the number of applications for disability is rising. How should psychiatrists deal with patients who ask for disability without compromising the therapeutic alliance or the goals of therapy?

Mental health care professionals must be aware of the responsibilities and conflicts that present when patients are children and adolescents. Prescribing medications to minors and working with the child's guardian in treatment decisions are discussed.