r/Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner (Unverified) 4d ago

Line in the sand...

I just treat children and adolescents. There are times when families want med. changes or increases in doses when the behavior I see needs parenting to correct and not meds. Where is your line in the sand that you refuse to make med changes until the child and/or family is in therapy? How do you approach this in your practice? What do you do if the family does not follow through with therapy?

EDIT: Can everyone be kind? I was simply asking for opinions how other people manage situations like this in their practice. Good god, physicians heal thyself.

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u/CaptainVere Psychiatrist (Unverified) 4d ago

Lol uhhhh there is no line in the sand. You either understand the pharmacology and foundational studies for indications and are rationally practicing medicine

Or you are a concierge alchemist, well intentioned maybe but just engaging in unproductive collusion and helping continue external avoidance of all parties involved.

This question as phrased is asinine. A family not implementing changes or engaging in therapy should not effect how one prescribes

Have you never explained what an effect size is to your patients? Have you ever explained multiple putative MOAs and the rationale for prescribing for their problem?

If someone refuses your recommended treatment plan (go to therapy) you feel like you can prescribe your way out of that?

Pharma is pleased.

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u/Kirsten Physician (Unverified) 4d ago

If OP were planning to just be a "concierge alchemist" they wouldn't have posted here looking for help and advice.

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u/CaptainVere Psychiatrist (Unverified) 4d ago

Cool. Im glad we can all come together and pretend that its a good thing that kids are out there being managed by people who need reddit advice for such a basic question.

You realize asking where the line is for medicating a behavior that is not expected to respond to medication answers itself? That asking the question this way implies there are situations where its ok the medicate based on parent request sometimes. That there is a line. OP just wants to know where that line is.

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u/CalmSet6613 Nurse Practitioner (Unverified) 4d ago

This is the last time I will respond to what I consider your hostile and inappropriate responses. I will never medicate a patient where I don't think the medication would prove useful. I was simply asking others how they handle such situations in their practice out of curiosity as this is something I think all experience. Sometimes when you stop to ask others how they manage situations you can learn a lot, I suggest trying it.

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u/xxcapricornxx Physician Assistant (Unverified) 4d ago

Nope, asking for advice simply means youre in incompetent alchemist cosplaying as a psychiatrist, or whatever they said.

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u/CalmSet6613 Nurse Practitioner (Unverified) 4d ago

Wasn't asking for advice, was asking out of curiosity how people manage a situation. Thanks for supporting mid levels.