The myriad medication mistakes in psychiatry: a consumer's view

Many consumers of mental health services suffer needlessly as a result of being given the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of the right medication or from other mistakes involving medication. The author, a consumer of mental health services for many years, discusses seven common medication mistakes: incorrect prescribing as a result of misdiagnosis, excessive dosages of medications, too many drugs, downplaying side effects, overlooking the consumer's expertise, discouraging consumers from learning about their medications, and the prescription-sheet relationship between psychiatrist and consumer. She concludes that although mental health professionals should listen more attentively to consumers, consumers bear the major responsibility for seeing that mistakes in their medication are corrected. Thus they must continue to speak up, raise questions, and keep informed.