MD Psychiatrist vs. DO Psychiatrist

[DucktorQuack]

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[digitlnoize]

What is the difference between a DO and an MD psychiatrist? Does the osteopathic mindset ("holistic" view) impact the practices of a DO psychiatrist? Is one considered superior to the other?

And, just to note, I'm not talking about the difference between osteopathic physicians and allopathic ones; I'm strictly talking about psychiatrists.

Thanks

DO student here. I don't think there is much, if any, difference. The "holistic" crap is largely propaganda, and I feel is more up to the individual clinician than the letters after their name. I've met many "holistic" MDs and non-holistic DOs. If you're going to stop for a second and think about how other aspects of a patient's health/life are impacting their treatment, then that is your choice, and I don't think DOs are inherently any better at it than MDs, although there are always exceptions.

DOs learn manipulation. Is that useful for psych patients? I doubt it. Personally, I don't plan to use it much due to how close it comes at times to crossing some personal barriers, and we often need to exercise more caution than some other fields. That being said, with the right supervision, maybe I'd do some basic techniques. OA release for headaches is by far my favorite, and can really help. It's also super easy/safe to do and teach to patients/families. Will I actually use it on my psych patients...I doubt it...but I teach it to all my MD FM colleagues I work with, usually by demonstrating it on a staff person with a headache. Half the office are usually "true believers" after that

 

[TexasPhysician]

No difference at all.

 

[psychphan]

IMO the best psychiatrists are the ones who take a "holistic" approach, but that has much more to do with one's personal mindset, beliefs, principles, and approach to treatment than it does the letters after one's name.

And I can't really see any DO psychiatrist using OMT techniques on their patients. I know I have about zero ambition to apply any of my OMT training to psych patients.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

DOs learn manipulation. Is that useful for psych patients? I doubt it. Personally, I don't plan to use it much due to how close it comes at times to crossing some personal barriers, and we often need to exercise more caution than some other fields. That being said, with the right supervision, maybe I'd do some basic techniques. OA release for headaches is by far my favorite, and can really help. It's also super easy/safe to do and teach to patients/families. Will I actually use it on my psych patients...I doubt it...but I teach it to all my MD FM colleagues I work with, usually by demonstrating it on a staff person with a headache. Half the office are usually "true believers" after that

HAHA! I used to do releases and give home exercises for my colleagues ALL THE TIME. If nothing else, it opened the allos' eyes as to how little they really know about MSK. I'm an MD btw.

 

[zenman]

I wonder if one group is more comfortable with the "magical, mystical" side of life than the other, or maybe psychiatrists in general are just more comfortable going outside a strickly biological viewpoint.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

I wonder if one group is more comfortable with the "magical, mystical" side of life than the other, or maybe psychiatrists in general are just more comfortable going outside a strickly biological viewpoint.

As a proponent of irreducible complexity, I have often felt that a holistic viewpoint is in some ways 'more biological' than the 'medical model' which might more accurately called the 'teleologic, reductionist, and empiricist model'. Please note that 'fallacy' can be placed in front of each of those adjectives with ease.

 

[DocArkham]

I personally enjoy OMT and truly believe in its benefits but I also don't see how it can work in psychiatry espeically with patients who could misinterpret you touching them for something other than treatment.

The reason I am applying for osteopathic residencies over allopathic have nothing to do with the fact either is different but because I still want to be able to be around manipulation and easily offer it to patients when available as well as still being able to perform OMT as an intern.

 

[digitlnoize]

The reason I am applying for osteopathic residencies over allopathic have nothing to do with the fact either is different but because...

For me, it's because there are few fellowships and I didn't like the locations. If I was only interested in adult, and wanted to live in those places, I would have considered it more.

There are other issues with the DO residencies. Many have lower pay and less benefits than the allo programs. Also, I'm not entirely sure that they abide by the ACGME work hour rules. Since they're AOA, there's no reason they have to really...probably less of a problem in psych, but definitely an issue in other fields, like IM. I know for a fact that some of the DO programs go way outside the ACGME rules, which is technically fine, but dangerous, IMO.

 

[myPsychAlt]

No difference at all.

This!

/MD