The probability of your psychiatrist being a quack is close to zero. If you want to know for certain if your psychiatrist is a qualified practitioner, you can check his medical and psychiatric credentials with your state licensing board.
If, however, you have a complaint about the mental health treatment that you are receiving in public or private facilities, you can contact the Protection and Advocacy office (P&A) and ask them to investigate your complaint. You can find them through your states Substance and Mental Health Administration National Mental Health Information Center. SAMHSA
Facilities that come under this jurisdiction include: hospitals, nursing homes, community facilities, board and care homes, homeless shelters, jails and prisons.
What is a quack? A quack is a pretender to a medical skill, a charlatan and one who makes a showy pretense to knowledge or ability. There are many quacks in the various medical fields, such as those who promise miracle cures in vitamins, minerals or even new procedures. What makes them quacks, is that they are promising something for which there is no proof of evidence, and they’re not operating within the standards of ethical medical practice guidelines.
Medical professionals participate in clinical trials, but the patient, first, would be informed and asked to give consent before entering into the treatment.
If the problem is that you have not, or cannot establish a trust relationship with your psychiatrist, you have the right to find a different psychiatrist that can better meet your needs. If you believe that you are not finding the help you need to progress, finding a different psychiatrist is a good idea.
Psychiatrists go to medical school, do an internship and residency. Frequently they study a five or more years for a specialized field of study.
Those who work in hospitals and clinics continue to do some psychotherapy for severe cases, but the increasing trend is for psychiatrists to evaluate and prescribe and manage medication for out patients and then enlist a clinical psychologist for psychotherapy services.
If you have any questions or complaints about your (or loved ones) psychiatrist, contact the state licensing board and lodge a complaint. You can contact SAMHSA or you can call 1-(800) 969-6642.
http://nmha.org
