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Today we return to my 3 New Things series so I can touch on three new pieces of information I’ve found this week. This week I talk about:
Recently a psychiatrist contacted me about a research opportunity. I’m very excited to participate in anything that furthers the knowledge of bipolar disorder, but I did want to check out the doctor to find out a bit more about him.
That’s when I came across HealthGrades.com. Now, there are many sites that provide a place for patient feedback on doctors and I recommend you check more than one when considering a psychiatrist; however, the reason why I like HealthGrades.com is because they provide background check information. Specifically, in addition to standard doctor information they provide:
This is an amazing resource for anyone researching a doctor and it’s free. Not all information is available on all doctor due to state reporting laws, but it’s well worth checking out. And if you do find something in the background check you should probably be able to find the associated court records for it online as well.
[Note: I am running a survey on real patients’ experiences with, and perspectives on, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). If you’ve had ECT and want your voice heard, please take the survey here. More detailed information on the ECT survey can be found here.]
Those of you who know me know I stick up for ECT as I consider it to be a much-maligned but life-saving treatment. And one of the reasons people are so against it is due to its portrayal in the media and in films. This article: About To Have ECT? Fine, but Don’t Watch It in the Movies: The Sorry Portrayal of ECT in Film details how incredible the shameful its portrayal in film really is.
If you happen to be like me, you know that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has a new version due out soon. The DSM outlines the method to recognize and diagnose all mental illness. The DSM current version is the DSM-IV-TR and version V is up soon.
Unfortunately, the professional opinion of the DSM-V seems to be that it’s a bit of a cluster. While well-meaning, the folks that have updated the DSM seem to have done so in a way that is so complex the diagnoses are incredibly difficult to implement.
And personality disorders is an excellent example of this complexity. Personality disorders are now to be diagnosed by category, subcategory and sub-subcategory. It’s just too much for the average clinician, I dare say.
Take a look: The Great DSM-5 Personality Bazaar
OK all, until next week when I will try to learn more and do better.
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
Connect with Natasha at the social media links below.
Shopping for someone with a mental illness can feel tricky—you want a gift that actually helps, not just more clutter. This guide walks you through 15 thoughtful, low-pressure mental health gifts that offer real comfort, reduce stress, and say, “I see you and I’m here,” during the holidays and all year.
I’m never going to call bipolar pain a “gift.” Most days, I just want it to stop. But emotional and even physical pain aren’t always random torture—they’re often trying to tell us something. This piece digs into what your pain might be saying, how to listen, and how that can make living with it just a little easier.
After 24 of 30 TMS sessions with no meaningful improvement, I wrote the guide I needed: why failed treatment hurts, how to get through the next 72 hours, and what to ask your clinician now.
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Did you ever find a Canadian equivalent site for us to use in checking our doctor’s backgrounds? Would this be the same site for shopping for a psychologist or psychiatrist? What is the difference anyway?
Thanks for the HealthGrades site. I already did my shopping for a new psychiatrist, but if I’m looking to change to a new one I’ll definitely use this site as a resource. It’s nice to know that there is some transparency that is freely available about the people we entrust our lives to.
Hi James,
Absolutely. I did find just Googling the doctor’s name to be quite revealing as well as most court documents are public record and available online.
Until I stumbled on this site I wouldn’t have thought about it. I’m not sure if we have a Canadian equivalent though.
– Natasha Tracy
Tracy, I am beyond impressed with your knowledge about psychiatric disorders. Compared to so many books, sites, movies, TV shows, and even MDS, your site is amazing!! Im currently working on my own book about dual diagnosis criteria & various alternative methods to treating Psychiatric disorders such as EMDR. THX SO MUCH! TY PS: My own shrink checked your site out & he gave you★★★★★!
Tyler,
Thank-you so much, your words have made me smile. Feel free to keep me apprised of how your book is going. I always like to support another writer.
And five stars? I’m sort of beaming. Thanks for passing that along.
– Natasha