Mental Health

Questions to Your Physician or Psychotherapist

By: Dr. Martin Winkler

According to ongoing research about the needs of patients withemotional problems misinformation or shame to speak about theproblem with the doctor or psychotherapist is a major limitation totreatment success. However, transparency, good information andparticipation in the course of the therapy is the most importantfactor for a lasting positive result. Maybe the following list ofthe most relevant questions might help you to get good informationabout your personal somatic or psychological problems, diagnosisand treatment options. This list, however, might help you to beprepared for the right questions :

1. Is there a name (clinical diagnosis) for my problem?

2. What are typical symptoms (somatic and psychological)?

3. What are the causes of the problem or the disorder?

4. What is the typical experience of other patients with thiskind of problem or disorder?

5. What could I do myself to achieve a solution?

6. What kind of further technical diagnosis is necessary toexclude other organic disorders?

7. What is the aim of these diagnosis? Are there any possiblerisks?

8. What kind of treatment options (drugs, psycho-social help,different psychotherapy-methods, biological treatment options)exist for my problem?

9. What kind of advantage can be achieved with the treatment(and how long does it take)?

10. What is the goal of suggested clinical diagnosticprocess

11. What kind of different treatment options are available?

12. What will be realistic advantages of a positive therapyoutcome?

13. Can the treatment offer me a reduction of my complaints?

14. How long will it take to achieve first positive results?

15. What might be the influence on my feelings orpersonality?

16. Are there any negative consequences for my sexuality?

17. Are there risks or possible side effects of thetreatment?

18. Do you think my problems will reoccur? Is it a chronicdisorder?

19. What kind of information is relevant for people, who carefor me?

20. Is there anything I could do myself to accelerate myrehabilitation?

21. How do I get additional information?

22. Are there self-help groups for my problem?

This is a rather comprehensive list of questions and you mustnot expect to get a quick answer within a short time. But it mightbe a start to get the answers you need. Reading books and using theinternet to find reliable information related to your personalproblems is a great support for you and your doctor.
Resource

Dr. Martin Winkler is a German medical doctor andpsychotherapist. He is medical coordinator of an EU-funded projectcalled web4health.info, a multilingulal question-answering webpagewith more than 900 FAQs related to psychotherapy and mentalwellbeing (to read more visit http://web4health.info)
Winkler@fhnon.de
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