Jenonymous B.'s Profile

Dr. Edger is the only psychiatrist I have ever liked, and I've had a few over the years. I first came to him in 2002, referred by my therapist for a consult on my mood disorder (and secretly on my alcohol addiction). Along with general psychiatry, he specializes in child and family psychiatry and has worked with plenty of addicts. As an alcoholic depressive/bipolar II stuck in an extended adolescence, Dr. Edger is the perfect psychiatrist for me.

Oddly enough, no other psychiatrist had ever told me I had to get off the booze (with a treatment program or a 12-step program) before he would prescribe an antidepressant. Seems logical enough--alcohol is a depressant, it doesn't react well with antidepressants and other medications (at the least it can make such meds somewhat useless, at worst it can be dangerous). Most psychiatrists, I believe, have no idea how to deal with addicts and alcoholics, don't understand us. Most (in my experience) don't seem to understand human beings in general.

With meds that are new to a patient that can build up to toxic levels or have bad side effects, Dr. Edger introduces them to the patient gradually and with education and monitoring. Despite the occasional horror stories I have heard about my meds, I have had no problems with my lithium, Lamictal, or Effexor (except for the awful hangover when I miss a day with the Effexor, but you can't get around that problem--just have to remember to take it), and I attribute this to Dr. Edger's conservative, gentle, knowledgeable approach.

Dr. Edger's communication skills are excellent, he keeps up with the latest developments, he answers questions honestly and with a great deal of patience. He is a wonderful resource for helping me to manage my own mood disorder, addiction, and general health.

The only sticking point is that Dr. Edger does not take insurance and cannot lower his fees, via a sliding scale or any other mechanism (due to an agreement with his partners or the nuances of some law or something--I have no idea). He will give you the necessary forms to send a claim to your insurance company (mine would not reimburse, as he is out of network), and he does not demand payment immediately. When I can't fit the fee into my budget in a given month, he tells me 'Pay when you can.' This definitely contributes to a feeling that the patient's health is the primary concern, not the business end of the practice.

If you're fed up with psychiatrists who seem cold or just clueless, and if you're in the Chicago area, you might want to call Dr. Edger.