Letters from the Psych Clinic - Patients Strike Back

Hello from Animated and Excitable Towers!

Well, that was a long Christmas break! I regret that I am shamefully behind with my plans to rage-blog all that is wrong in the world of mental health research. I've not forgotten; I've only become more enraged with the passing of time and the publication of even more shite research!  I hope to have the next #ResearchersAreRubbish installment up before the weekend is out.

In the meantime, this is just a quick post to document the most delicious thread of the week on Mad Twitter. Everyone is writing imaginary missives to their GP, in the style of a psychiatrist's review letter, and it all started when Bibi (@GoodNewsFromBad) was dismayed by what she found in her psych notes...

That's a new one. Psychiatrist notes say 'has no hair'. Do people often get statements saying 'has hair'???

— Bibi (@GoodNewsFromBad) April 3, 2019

Here's my letter to my GP about one of the first and most memorable psychiatrists I've ever met.  I'll call him 'Dr D' to spare the blushes that might otherwise clash with his colourful range of waistcoats and bow-ties.


Dear GP 

Thank you for referring me to this trainee psychiatrist who I saw in his outpatient clinic at Arse End Community Mental Health Team. 

Dr D presented as a very tall and extremely well-kempt gentleman in his mid-30s. He was wearing a dapper waistcoat and jaunty bow-tie, and was carrying a large chip on his shoulder consistent with that of a former public schoolboy bearing up to an unwelcome and unprestigious backwater rotational placement. 

Dr D greeted me in reception with a weak handshake and a disdainful gaze. On entering the clinic room, he performed a series of sudden and unexpected movements not dissimilar to a 1990s boy band dance routine. I am unsure if this was an unorthodox attempt to establish rapport or, perhaps more likely, a calculated manoeuvring of his posterior into the chair closest to the door, in order to secure an escape route in the unlikely event of a hammer attack by a depressed woman half his size and stature. 

Unfortunately, it was not possible to conduct a full medication review today, due to Dr D's denial of the legitimacy of the NICE Guidelines and his frequent interruptions, in which he regaled stories of his early life experiences, niche academic interests, and his overall sense of disappointment with his current training placement. 

Dr D appears to have insight into his condition but remains positive about the future. "All my life, people have told me that I am very odd!" he said brightly, as we concluded the appointment. 

I will review Dr D in his clinic in 4/52 to check his privilege and monitor his growing sense of entitlement.

@RoseAnnieFlo

Edit (6/4/19)  For more alternative clinic letters follow @dear_gp and #DearGP on Twitter and for a very moving account of the way careless psych letters affect some of our lives, see Laura's blog here. 

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