This can be, but is not always (nor even often) true.
The vast vast majority of people on psych meds live perfectly normal lives. They suffer from a chemical imbalance that is corrected by the med. As long as they are on the meds they are fine. I know bunches of folks like this.
I also know a few people who were on the meds for a while until their system "rebalanced" itself and they no longer needed the meds.
Unfortunately most of these meds have side effects which can range from beneficial (Wellbutrin is known to increase sex drive in some people) to down right horrendous (suicidal, impulsive self damaging, permanent motor ticks and glitches etc).
So all of them require pretty regular (monthly or quarterly) doctor's supervision. Making sure the drug does what it's supposed to do without causing bad side effects. Sometimes it takes several tries to find the particular drug that works for the particular patient
The problems with pschyologists/psychiatrists happens when they get lazy and don't invest the time into their patients to understand what is really going on.
A little of my experience in this world. My wife passed away about 7 years ago (there's a thread on here in the archives where most of this is discussed). Prior to her death she dealt with some mental issues brought on by (we assume anyways) a brain surgery that she had to control her epilepsy (she was having up to 20 seizures a day pre surgery and had only about 7 after the surgery).
The problem is that after brain surgery they routinely put people on an anti-depressant. She reacted badly to the first one (it gave her gastric problems), the second one seemed ok but then she got manic (Apparently this was a recognized side effect in .4% of the people taking it). Rather than investigate what was causing it the psych put her on ativan to combat the mania. Turns out that ativan casues suicidal depression in something like .04% of the people taking it. Of course my wife fell into the percentage.
It took several months to figure out what the probelm was as she cycled from manic to depressed. We went to I think 7 different doctors for various things during that time frame, including a short term mental health residential facility, and no one looked at the drug interactions (because these particular effects were so rare). They'd adjust the meds until the symptoms went away and then dischareg her. Finally I charted her behaviors against when we started, stopped or changed the dosage of the drugs. Obvious drug interaction problems. Her psychiatrist agreed with me right off the bat and we were able to wean her off most of the drugs and get her just about back to normal
(There were some extenuating circumstances that messed her up. She had been subjected to a "faith healer" who was essentially just a hypnotist during the time she was on the drugs and the suggestions went way deep as she was already opened up by the drugs)
She ended up dying of a siezure unrelated to the drug mess (any seizure can kill you, she had had thousands during our years together, any one of them could have killed her. God decides who lives and dies)
Were the drugs evil? No. Were the doctors evil? No. (A bit lazy and in one case incompetent, but not evil.)
The lesson learned?
1. Do not let them put you on a drug unless you know you really need it. (She did not need the anti-depressent after the surgery. If she would have show symptoms then, and only then, would the drug be needed.) 2. Read the drug literature and know all the side effects of any drug they put you on. Watch for these effects and discuss them with your doctor asap. Don't add a med until you are sure that the new symptom is NOT caused by any med you're already on. 3.YOU and you alone are responsible for your health. You make the decisions, not the doctor. If something doesn't look right or feel right, ask questions. Make sure you understand exactly what is going on before you leave the doctor's office. Don't let him bully you into doing something you don't understand or don't feel right about.
Most of our doctors are over scheduled and don't (can't) spend the time with each patient that they should. (and obamacare is going to make this far worse). They have good intentions but can't make the system work unless we are active participants in our health care.
Excellant summation, and I agree. Sorry you had to experience all that with your wife.
We are in charge and need to know and question what any Dr. prescribes. Dr's. too are held accountable if they DO NOT prescribe certain MEDS and something happens later.
If we decline a MED, that gives the DR. the waiver he needs to protect him or herself. I have refused many drugs & tests and my Dr. is fine with that.
I first try to find out what I am doing different that caused the problem, and more than once I have self diagnosed and cured myself.
That is why I will never take the FLU shot, it killed my dad. Gullain-barra, horrible death. Have talked with many in the Medical field that say they too will not take that shot. This of course is just what I do, not a recommendation to anyone if they so desire.