Questions You Should Ask Your Psychiatrist

Therapy is supposed to be a space for the patient to seek help and open up about their problems. Being upfront with your questions can make you feel more at ease in therapy.

Consulting a psychiatrist for the first time can be a nerve-wracking and overwhelming experience for most people. You don’t know much about who you will be talking to, so you probably enter with a few basic questions for them.

However, preparing yourself before the consultation and before you start taking medication can help you feel more comfortable and confident when it comes to seeking treatment for your mental health.

The most important aspect of building a solid relationship with your psychiatrist is making sure that you both are on the same page before you begin treatment. Most patients consult a psychiatrist to get all their doubts clarified about their mental illness. Generally, basic questions about the timing, fees, location and duration of the consultation will be asked.

Medication is key to treating most mental illnesses, and it is crucial to know how it can affect your body. You will need to talk about the treatment plan, medications and their side effects, and how to deal with symptoms will need to be asked.

Questions you should ask your psychiatrist:

• What are the possible causes of your illness 
• How to manage your symptoms
• Duration of the treatment plan
• Side effects of the medication and how it would affect your life
• Other treatment options in case the original treatment plan fails 
• How the medication can affect your sleep, appetite, sex life
• Whether the medication will affect your ability to drive 
• How will you know if the medication is working

A new patient may ask for opinions from patients who have visited the doctor earlier about their education and general experience with them. Having this discussion can help you gain a better understanding of the psychiatrist and make a decision about whether they are the right fit for you.

Each psychiatrist has a different method of approaching failed treatment. Understanding how they treat you by asking questions can help determine whether to continue or try a new treatment plan. 

But regardless of the treatment, managing your symptoms and problems would require you to stay dedicated, show up for your consultations, and take the medication at the prescribed time to get the most out of your treatment.

Medically reviewed by Dr Sunitha MBBS, DPM (NIMHANS), DNB

Dr Sunitha serves as the Chief Psychiatrist at Agan Health Trichy. She specialises in Adult Psychiatry, and her fields of interest include consultation liaison psychiatry and women's mental health. With over 15 years of experience in the field of mental healthcare, Dr Sunitha has been instrumental in positively transforming the lives of many in Tamil Nadu. She is also a consulting psychiatrist at some of the reputed mental health institutions in Tamil Nadu.