Regular MD diagnosing mental illness???

So, I spent some time with my sister in law tonight, her eyes were all bloodshot red and she was spaced out. I asked her what was wrong with her and she tells me that she had been to the doctor earlier this week sick and that she cried during the appointment. She said it was just because she was sick and had to get a shot that hurt. lol (She's tough some ways, but not others.)

ANYWAY... the doctor decided she was depressed because she cried, so he prescribed nerve pills. Okay. I've heard of regular doctors prescribing meds for depression - my nurse practitioner prescribed mine for a couple of months. Okay, still with ya. (Not really, when she was saying she wasn't depressed, but anyway...)

So, THEN she says he told her he thought she had a mental illness. Not with him anymore. This chic is pretty level and I've never seen her act outside of the normal response for a set of conditions. And he's seen her TWICE. Both times she has been sick enough to need shots and stuff, and some people are just kinda whiny when they feel bad. (*waves hand*)

So, I'm like... "Okay, so are they going to do any kind of evaluation while you're healthy before they put you on long-term medicine?"

She says, "Yeah, I have a mental health screening next week."

I'm like, "Wow. How did you get an appointment so quick?"

And she says, "Well, he wanted me to be seen quickly."

I'm thinking it's odd that my NP couldn't get me in for a month even though I've been in counseling for months but anyway... I ask if she wants me to drive her and where she's going. Then comes the record scratch...

HE is doing the screening! I know him, personally. He's an Army trained MD. I say, "Umm, sweetie, he isn't a psychiatrist. He's a regular medical doctor." She says, "Oh, he has a special room for it and everything. He showed me the room."

YOU DON'T PUT SOME CANDLES IN A ROOM AND SUDDENLY BECOME A PSYCHIATRIST!!!

I say gently, "But... he doesn't have a degree in psychology. At all."
And she says, "Yeah, I know. But, he said he does it all the time. It'll be fine."

WHAT?!?

Is this at all normal? Am I wrong to be freaked out? I mean, she's a level-headed girl but she's been through a lot and I just thinking it's dangerous for him to be putting her on meds without seeking a psychiatrist's advice.

I tried to talk her into going to a visit or two with a counselor before she committed to taking meds, but she said, "No, he said therapy wouldn't help." WHAT?

She was like a freaking zombie. We were watching a football game, but had it recording on the DVR. One of the guys backed it up a good bit to rewatch an earlier play that one of the commentators referenced. She'd been in the kitchen getting a snack and when she came back she said, "How'd the scores go down?"
My brother says, "They restarted the game since we were losing. We called the do-over rule."
And she says - seriously - "Oh awesome. I didn't know you could do that. Maybe we'll win this try!"
I said, "Uh, sweetie - they backed up the DVR to rewatch a play. That's the first quarter."
She just smiles and says, "Oh - okay. Will that help us?"

Am I wrong to be concerned here? Tomorrow, we're having dinner at my mother's house and I'm seriously considering talking to my brother. Should I? Or am I just sticking my nose where it doesn't belong?

I mean, if she's depressed, I want her to get help. I just want it to come from someone qualified. I love her!

That sounds like some kind or weird/creepy movie plot...isn't there one called 'Side Effects' where the doctor is controlling the woman with psych meds or something?...

I would go ahead and talk to your brother. It is not being intrusive, just caring and concerned.

I wish her the best.

S.C.

Yeah, I know the clinic pretty well and they do a lot of stuff I think is shady. Like, they sell all of this diet stuff (they have a 'room' for that, too) that's less than healthy. I tried a liquid diet from there that the doctor gave a rave review and kept getting sick. I sat down and added everything up after a few days. It was 750 calories a day - MY doctor had a hissy fit.

I saw them today at my birthday dinner. She seemed somewhat normal again. My brother had already asked her not to take any more of whatever the doctor had prescribed. He has asked her to go to a specialist for the screening before taking anything else. I was relieved! I get to just do the sister thing and take her to the salon - he's already taken over the treatment situation. Prayer - answered.