(91) 972 420 1332
info@parthhospital.com
Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Linkedin Youtube
Parth Hospital

Informed Decision Making

  • Home
  • Informed Decision Making

Understanding Informed Decision Making

Definition of Informed Decision Making

Making smart choices about your mental health is super important. It’s all about understanding what’s going on, what services are available, and what to expect.

KNOW MORE

Media’s Portrayal of Psychiatric Illnesses

Psychiatrists might have to defend their practices in court. They also have a responsibility to educate the public and reduce the stigma around mental health issues.

KNOW MORE

Democratization of the Medical Profession

The goal is to create informed patients who can effectively partner with healthcare providers while respecting the boundaries between accessible information and professional medical judgment.

KNOW MORE

Debunking Myths

Decision-Making Process for Psychiatric Illnesses

Psychiatric medicines are crucial for treating biological illnesses like depression and schizophrenia, despite common misconceptions about their effectiveness and side effects.

KNOW MORE

Timing of Medication Introduction for Psychiatric Illnesses

Depression which occurs due to the presence of external circumstances. 
For example, death of a loved one, financial issues, adjustment problems etc.

KNOW MORE

My Loved One Has Schizophrenia: Is There a Permanent Cure?

Schizophrenia is the most common mental illness. It’s often associated with images of people acting strangely, being aggressive, or being indecent.

KNOW MORE
Consult Best Psychiatrist in Ahmedabad

Consultation Timing

Monday - Saturday
Morning: 9:00 -1:00 PM
Evening: 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Follow Us
Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

Quick Links

Get In Touch

Parth Hospital,
3rd Floor Sigma Excellence, Near Management Enclave, Opposite Falguni Gruh Udyog, Ahmedabad, 380015

For Appointment

(91) 972 420 1332
(91) 987 972 5516

info@parthhospital.com

Visit Us

© 2025 Parth Hospital – All Rights Reserved | Powered By CreativeKatta

Asking the Right Questions to a Psychiatrist

Making smart choices about your mental health is super important. It’s all about understanding what’s going on, what services are available, and what to expect. When you’re making these decisions, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to your psychiatrist or mental health specialist. Here are some key questions to keep in mind:

What are informed decisions?

In the medical world, informed decisions are the key to a strong doctor-patient relationship. By asking questions about your illness and exploring different treatment options, you can gather all the info you need to make a well-informed choice.

Why don’t we ask enough questions?

Society often tells us not to ask questions, which can make us feel uncomfortable or like we’re not smart enough. This can come from childhood experiences where we were told to be quiet or not ask questions. Some people might feel like they’re being bossed around or don’t trust the doctor, while others might get angry and lash out.

How does it affect my life?

When we’re dealing with tough situations or problems, it’s important to ask questions to get a better understanding. If we don’t ask questions, we might miss out on important information or make bad decisions.

What are the consequences of not asking enough questions to my doctor?

When you’re seeing a doctor, they’re going to give you a list of possible treatments. But if you don’t ask questions, you might miss out on the best treatment for you. So, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor anything you’re curious about. Making informed decisions is our goal, right? But how do we do that? Well, it all starts with asking the right questions.

Summary

Tips for Asking Questions Things to Keep in Mind
Be clear about what you want to know. Listen carefully to what your doctor says.
Stay focused and avoid distractions Ask questions that are interesting and fun for your doctor to answer.
Ask your doctor for facts and opinions. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions.
Get a good understanding of your illness and ask more questions. Don’t ask too many questions at once.
Be respectful of your doctor’s time.

A Collaborative Approach to Stigma Reduction and Public Education

Psychiatrists might have to defend their practices in court. They also have a responsibility to educate the public and reduce the stigma around mental health issues. We need to dig deeper into how the media portrays psychiatry.

Media, in all its forms, has a huge impact on people’s thoughts and feelings around the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people watching stuff on streaming services, the media has become even more powerful in shaping how people think.

For a long time, the media has shown mental illness in a really bad way. They’ve made it seem like mental health problems are violent, like people going to mental hospitals, wearing straight jackets, and getting shocked. While these things have been around for a while, people are starting to realize that we need to show mental health issues in a more realistic and accurate way.

Lately, the media has been focusing more on showing mental health conditions that are more common, like depression and anxiety. They’re trying to encourage people to talk about their feelings, listen to others, and be more understanding. One movie even took a personal and intimate approach to counseling and talk therapy.

Psychiatry is the only medical specialty that goes beyond just the symptoms and diagnosis of mental health conditions. It includes all the treatment options, like conservative management and interventions. This is different from other medical specialties like cardiology, where patients usually know what their symptoms are and what the possible treatments are for heart attacks. But in psychiatry, the doctor decides whether to do conservative or interventionist treatment, and the treatment plan is usually suggested before the patient agrees.

What People Expect from a Psychiatrist (and What Really Happens)

I’ve noticed something interesting in my practice as a psychiatrist—most people already have a diagnosis in mind before they even walk into my office. They’re either looking for confirmation or hoping I’ll tell them, “It’s nothing to worry about.” If I agree with their self-diagnosis, they’re relieved. But if I don’t, things get tricky.

Many people think psychiatry is just about talking. They imagine they’ll walk in, spill their thoughts while reclining on a couch, and leave feeling magically healed in one session—just like in the movies. But that’s not really how it works.

Psychiatrists are doctors. Just like cardiologists treat heart conditions, psychiatrists treat mental illnesses. That means we use a combination of therapy, medication, and even procedures like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) when needed. It’s not just about listening; it’s about finding the best treatment to help someone feel better.

I also get a lot of questions about the difference between psychiatrists and psychologists. Here’s a simple way to look at it:

  • A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for mental health conditions.
  • A psychologist is a trained professional who helps people through therapy and counseling but doesn’t prescribe medication.

    • If you’re considering seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist, the best first step is to talk to a trusted doctor or mental health professional who can guide you toward the right support.

    And no—you don’t actually need a couch for a great conversation! 😊

    The Democratization of Medical Knowledge: Balancing Information and Expertise

    The Evolution of Health Information Access

    In today's digital age, the unprecedented access to medical information has transformed how we approach our health. Through social media platforms and online resources, individuals are increasingly empowered to make informed decisions about their well-being. This shift represents a significant change from the traditionally passive approach to healthcare.

    The Distinction Between Wellness and Treatment

    While being proactive about health maintenance is beneficial, there's a crucial distinction between managing wellness and treating illness. The complexity of medical treatment requires more than just information—it demands context, experience, and professional judgment

    Why We Seek Control

    • Erosion of trust in healthcare institutions
    • Overconfidence in self-acquired medical knowledge
    • Desire for autonomy in healthcare decisions
    • Skepticism about healthcare providers’ motivations

    The Challenge of Context in Medical Information

    While online resources provide abundant medical information, they often lack crucial context. Medical knowledge exists as disconnected pieces that require professional expertise to properly interpret and apply. Each patient’s situation is unique, requiring personalized evaluation and treatment approaches

    Common Reasons for Treatment Resistance

    • Influence of well-meaning but misinformed friends and family
    • Suspicion of healthcare providers’ financial motivations
    • Desire for more comprehensive consultation time
    • Misconceptions about treatment implications

    Our tendency to trust familiar voices, regardless of their medical expertise, can significantly impact treatment decisions. This natural inclination can sometimes lead to the rejection of professional medical advice in favor of more comfortable but potentially less informed opinions.

    Medical opinions are based on scientific evidence and clinical experience, not popular consensus. The medical field continuously evolves through rigorous scientific research and clinical trials. While approaches may vary among professionals, these differences stem from evidence-based methodologies rather than arbitrary choices.

    The relationship between doctors and patients should be viewed as a partnership where:

    • Doctors provide expert medical opinions based on training and experience
    • Patients maintain the right to accept or decline treatment recommendations
    • Decisions should be informed by medical expertise rather than unsubstantiated beliefs

    The democratization of medical knowledge should enhance, not replace, professional medical expertise. The goal is to create informed patients who can effectively partner with healthcare providers while respecting the boundaries between accessible information and professional medical judgment.

    Summary

    The Democratization of Medical Knowledge

    Topic Key Points
    Health Information Access
  • Digital age has transformed health information access
  • Increased empowerment through social media and online resources
  • Shift from passive to active healthcare approach
    		•
    Wellness vs Treatment
  • Clear distinction between maintaining wellness and treating illness
  • Medical treatment requires professional context and judgment
  • Information alone is insufficient
    		•
    Control-Seeking Factors
  • Erosion of trust in healthcare institutions
  • Overconfidence in self-acquired knowledge
  • Desire for healthcare autonomy
  • Provider motivation skepticism
    		•
    Information Context
  • Online resources lack crucial medical context
  • Professional expertise needed for proper interpretation
  • Each patient requires personalized approach
    		•
    Treatment Resistance
  • Influence of misinformed friends/family
  • Suspicion of financial motivations
  • Desire for longer consultations
  • Treatment misconceptions
    		•
    Medical Opinion Formation
  • Based on scientific evidence
  • Stems from clinical experience
  • Not determined by popular consensus
  • Evolves through research
    		•
    Doctor-Patient Partnership
  • Doctors provide expert opinions
  • Patients have right to accept/decline
  • Decisions should be evidence-based
  • Partnership approach recommended
    		•

    How is treatment for psychiatric illnesses decided? And when to start medicines?

    As a psychiatrist, I often get asked, “Can’t this be treated with counseling?” Patients come to me convinced that counseling is the only way to go. Maybe they heard it from friends or read it online, but they’re set on it. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, there’s a lot of Western influence on counseling, and they want to follow the same process here, especially for the therapist.

    Let me tell you how we decide if treatment is needed.
    For example, let’s say someone comes to us with depression. We’ll start by asking them about their symptoms and seeing if they fit the criteria for clinical depression.

    Here are the main things we look for

    1. The symptoms must meet the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
    2. The symptoms must have lasted for at least 15 days.
    3. The symptoms must be severe enough to put the person’s life at risk (like suicidal thoughts or intentions).
    4. The symptoms must significantly impact the person’s personal, professional, and social life.
    5. If the symptoms meet all these criteria, we’ll start looking into treatment options.

    Counseling or talk therapy can be helpful when

    1.  The symptoms are mild and don’t interfere with daily life.
    2.  There’s an external factor, like social or personal problems, that’s causing the symptoms.
    3. But counseling is only effective if the person is willing to apply the techniques learned in therapy in real life, not just on the couch.

    If your symptoms are severe and there’s no external factor causing them, counseling probably won’t be helpful.

    These symptoms are caused by a lack of certain brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and nor-epinephrine. These chemicals need to be given from the outside, either in pills or injections, and can’t be gotten from food or other vitamins. Doctors decide which medicines to give based on the person’s symptoms and other things about them.

    Everyone is different, so each person gets treated differently.

    Summary

    Please note the following key considerations:

    • Seek professional evaluation for depression.
    • Understand the severity of your condition.
    • Consult with your psychiatrist regarding available psychiatric treatments.
    • Investigate whether external factors contribute to your depression.
    • Medication is typically prescribed for moderate to severe depression.
    • Counseling, akin to lifestyle modifications, serves as an additional treatment option, not the sole intervention.
    • Counseling is not effective for psychotic illnesses.

    Why are psychiatric medicines even considered?

    This is a tough one to accept, but it’s important to understand that your illness is at a stage where medical treatment is crucial. If you don’t get help, your condition could worsen or not improve on its own. Your illness is biological in nature, caused by changes in your brain chemistry.

    Are there any life-threatening side effects?

    Psychotropic medicines usually don’t have any serious side effects. But it’s always a good idea to check with your psychiatrist for specific details.

    What are some common misconceptions about psychiatric medicines

    • Psychiatric medicines will make you fat
    • Psychiatric medicines are addictive.
    • All psychiatric medicines make you sleepy
    • Psychiatric medicines don’t cure you; they just keep you drowsy all day.

    Why is there so much resistance towards these medicines?

    People often don’t realize that psychiatric illnesses are just like any other biological illness. Mild diseases don’t need aggressive treatment, but if your illness is severe or recurring, it needs to be treated.

    So, there you have it! Remember, if you’re struggling with a psychiatric illness, it’s important to seek help from a qualified professional.

    Just like a fever or infection, a psychiatric illness doesn’t mean someone is weak or incapable of taking care of themselves. It’s just the body’s inability to perform its usual activities.

    When someone has an infection, we treat them with antibiotics, which helps boost their immune system. This doesn’t mean the person is weak; it just means their immune system needs some extra support.

    Patients often think they’re doing well and can work, so they don’t need medicine. But the truth is, psychiatric illnesses are progressive. You might be able to do your work today, but it might not be the same tomorrow. It’s easier to treat when the illness is in its early stages than when it becomes more severe.

    I’m not keen on taking medicines, so I was wondering if talking to a counselor might be a better option?

    You know, there’s this whole thing going on lately about how counseling can fix everything. Movies and TV shows make it seem like just sitting down on a comfy couch and talking about your feelings is all it takes to solve problems. But that’s not really how it works.

    There’s a big difference between giving advice and going to counseling. Most people think the two are the same, but they’re not. When you come to us for advice, you want to hear something that makes you feel better, more motivated, and gives you a sense of hope. That’s what self-help, spiritual healing, and other forms of pep talks are all about. Counseling is a whole different ball game. It’s more intense and personal. A counselor helps you understand yourself better. They don’t give you advice; they help you figure things out on your own. You talk about your feelings, why you feel them, and how you react. There are different types of psychotherapy, but the most important thing is that the responsibility for change and becoming better lies with you.

    Counseling sessions can vary in length—some may last for a few weeks or months, while others continue for years. In certain cases, ongoing therapy can be beneficial as part of long-term support.

    However, psychotherapy isn’t always the right approach for severe psychiatric conditions like severe depression or schizophrenia, where medical treatment is the primary focus. That said, for some people, therapy can be a highly effective tool for improving mental health, building resilience, and enhancing overall well-being.

    SUMMARY

    Psychiatric medicines are super important for treating biological illnesses like depression and schizophrenia, even though people often think they don’t work or have side effects. While counseling can be helpful, it’s not a substitute for medical treatment and usually takes longer. Early intervention with medication is key to managing psychiatric illnesses effectively.

    My loved one has schizophrenia. There are good days and bad days. Is there a permanent cure?

    Schizophrenia is the most common mental illness. It’s often associated with images of people acting strangely, being aggressive, or being indecent.

    For anyone who knows schizophrenia, it’s unpredictable and can be a challenge. It’s an illness where the lines between what’s real and what’s imaginary get blurred often. Patients with schizophrenia don’t understand their illness, so they don’t accept that they have a mental illness. This makes it hard to treat and predict their future.

    One of the most common questions I get asked is:

    1. Sometimes he/she behaves absolutely normally and then there’s a complete change in behavior
    2. Even on medication, things aren’t always normal.
    3. They don’t resume their daily activities, even after years of treatment.
    4. Does this mean there’s no cure?

    Some unusual things about schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia is a chronic and lifelong illness that goes through ups and downs.

    If a person with schizophrenia never gets treatment, they’ll still go through periods of severe illness-related symptoms and periods with no symptoms at all.

    The reasons for treatment are:

    1. The symptoms are often hard to manage. They can include aggression, which is the most common delusion in patients.
    2. The illness, if left untreated, will become very aggressive over time, requiring hospitalization and intensive care.
    3. Treatment has shown to be very effective in reducing symptoms and helping patients live a normal life.

    If we leave schizophrenia untreated, there would be…

    Schizophrenia isn’t something that just goes away on its own—it tends to get worse over time if not treated. In fact, the longer someone stays in a psychotic state without help, the harder it becomes to manage their symptoms with medication. That’s why early treatment is so important.

    One of the most common questions I hear is, “How long does the medicine need to be taken?” To understand that, we first need to look at what’s happening in the brain.

    Schizophrenia is linked to high levels of dopamine, a chemical that helps brain cells communicate. When there’s too much dopamine, it can lead to delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and even aggression—the key symptoms of schizophrenia. While we can’t directly lower dopamine levels with current treatments, medications can block its effects and help control symptoms.

    This means that for most people, medication is a long-term commitment, often for life. Right now, that’s just a limitation of medical science. However, the good news is that today’s treatments are highly effective in managing symptoms and preventing relapses.

    That being said, I’ve seen many patients stop taking their medication for different reasons. When they do, the time it takes for symptoms to return varies—a relapse might happen in just a few days, or it could take years.

    For families and caregivers, this can be emotionally and financially draining. Over time, frustration builds up, and it’s easy to start feeling like the person with schizophrenia is acting this way on purpose. But I want to reassure you—this isn’t something they can control.

    Schizophrenia is a biological illness caused by complex changes in the brain. Your loved one isn’t choosing to behave this way, and with the right treatment and support, they can lead a stable and fulfilling life. 💙

    SUMMARY: 

    • Schizophrenia Definition: A chronic and lifelong mental illness characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganization, and aggression, caused by excessive dopamine in the brain.
    • Treatment Challenges: Difficult to treat due to the blurred line between reality and imagination, patients’ lack of understanding of their illness, and the unpredictability of symptoms.
    • Importance of Treatment: Early treatment is crucial to manage symptoms, reduce aggression, prevent hospitalization, and improve quality of life.