Remember that scene from the 1999 comedy, Office Space, wherein an incompetent office worker is incapable of explaining his purpose at the company—the one to which the classic line “What would you say . . . you do here?” is directed?
An analogous conversation with a psychiatrist might go something like this:
Interviewer: What you do as a psychiatrist is you meet with people who are having psychological difficulties.
Psychiatrist: Yes, that’s right.
Interviewer: So, you work with them to explore their issues and help them solve problems?
Psychiatrist: Well, no. I usually refer them to a psychotherapist for that.
Interviewer: Well, then, I just have to ask: Why couldn’t they just meet directly with a psychotherapist?
Psychiatrist: Well, I’ll tell you why: Because . . . psychotherapists are not good at diagnosing mental illnesses and can’t prescribe psychiatric drugs.
Interviewer: So, you actually conduct tests that objectively establish whether or not an individual has a brain illness?
Psychiatrist: Well . . . no. I have a neurologist do that—or other medical specialist.
Interviewer: So then, you must treat the people who are confirmed to have neurological diseases with the drugs you prescribe.
Psychiatrist: Well . . . no. I mean, I treat the ones that don’t have neurological diseases.
Interviewer: What . . . what would you say . . . you do here?
Psychiatrist: Well, look, I already told you. I deal with the goddamn mental illnesses so the psychotherapists and neurologists don’t have to. I have specialised medical skills! I’m good at diagnosing and prescribing! Can’t you understand that!? What the hell is wrong with you people!?
Interviewer: . . .
This post is an excerpt from an article entitled, UN Special Rapporteur Dainius Pūras: Biomedical Approach ‘Still has an Important Role to Play’.
