Such Thing as Cardiac Psychiartrists/Vice Versa

[hefner33]

Hey.

I was just wondering if their are known specialists such as psychiartrists that have a sub specialty in cardiology or Cardiologists that have a sub specialty in psychiartry. I always wondered if their were since alot of these issues tie into together when it comes with a heart related issue. But I was just asking. I know I can Google but sometimes a community of like minded folk knows more than what Google knows.

Thanks

[hefner33]

Thanks for the replies.

The reason I ask and I know we are subjected to the "turf" issue but what I've realized is it's very hard to get the shared Dr's on the same page. One tells you to do this, the other tells you no do this. Then there's a overlap on whats really going on. The referred Dr. just gets your referral and then you have to try to explain your very detailed and personal situation and they have to make the judgement calls. Its tough cause some Dr's arent very versed in some specialty's.

Ill give example of a personal event. I had a relative that suffers from Long QT and its well documented on their own records. Her cardio/electro referred her to a Phych which then put her on some type (dont remember the type) anti-depressant that was not suppose to be used on someone with this condition because it is known to either cause it (if you didnt have it - rare) or make it worse.

But it gets to my point, like a regular GP Dr. if there were Drs that specialized in these two areas. Theres lots of sub specialtys out there though and I learned this when I visited the Mayo. Had a Neuro Dr but he specialized just on headaches. So if you had headaches, you saw him and a regular nuero. O_o

[achillea]

My fine shrink is also a quick-minded MD, well grounded in human physiology.  I have often shown him my bloodwork and EKGs, and though he is not a specialist in either field (and my case is not too complicated), he is well enough educated to sift the wheat from the chaff--or to know where to look it up.

I am confident that if he saw something out of the grossly obvious, he would withhold judgment and refer me to the correct specialist. But I know something about medical matters, and I suspect our arrangement may be somewhat unusual.

[itdood]

A friend of mine is a dermatologist and a psychiatrist, and he practices both in some situations.  For instance, there are conditions where people can't stop picking their skin (Excoriation disorder), they end up at a derm thinking it's a skin condition.  Generally it's not, it's behavioral health issue....and he helps them via CBT or refer them to a psych for CBT.  But he does this on his own, I've not seen any board approval or certification to practice this way.  USA medicine is very geared towards turfing (specialization)

Cardiology is another specialty where the conditions can take a heavy toll on the mind, and it can create phobias and behavioral health issues.

We see it on this board all the time.  Sometimes people can't distinguish between anxiety / panic disorders versus heart related.  I've been there myself.  It's taken me years to be able to exercise again once I developed a phobia for it.

Anxiety disorders are very misunderstood, even by those currently going through it.

Very tough issues.  

anyways, I work extensively in health care and I've not seen this combined approach.  As soon as a cardiologist suspects psych issue they will turf them (send them to another specialist). The psych specialist will treat whatever the issue is via already set protocols that are generally accepted, like CBT for behavioral health (phobias, depression, anxiety, panic).