Posted by JohnL on October 18, 1999, at 3:27:24
In reply to Need a good Psychiatrist in NC, posted by Refractory depression has ruined my life on October 18, 1999, at 1:25:56
Sorry to hear your struggles. Certainly sounds like you've made some valiant efforts. MAOIs, MAOI+TCA, ECT would all be warranted at this time I think. Also mood stabilizers. Maybe Naltrexone. Not to worry, there are still many chioces for you. One of them will work. MAOIs and TCAs especially can work wonders when nothing else did. Also, if you've been misdiagnosed and you are actually bipolar (can be even if manic episodes aren't evident), then ADs would be the wrong approach altogether, explaining your failures so far.
There is a site called Ivan Goldberg's Depression Central. In it he lists the top psychiatric hospitals in the USA. One is Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.
He also lists top psychiatrists in the country. Here are the three in NC:
Janowsky, David S., M.D.
University of NC School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-966-0167Prange Jr, Arthur J., M.D.
same as aboveDavidson, Jonathan R.T., M.D.
637 Totten Place
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-684-2880There are also good questions to ask in determining the expertise of a doctor. For example, what's the highest dose of Prozac you've prescribed? A poor answer is 80mg. An expert answer is 160mg. Another example, are you comfortable prescribing a TCA with an MAOI? Bad answer is no, that could be very dangerous. Expert answer is Yes, I've found that very helpful in certain patients.
So whether you use the addresses above or use specific questions to screen your own prospective list of doctors, there is plenty of hope here! Go get em! :)
poster:JohnL
thread:13361
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991016/msgs/13362.html