Psychiatric Medication as a Warm Coat

Sometimes I envy scientists and physicians from 100 years ago who took credit for the easy discoveries, sometimes even attaching their names to them. The Bernoulli Principle, for example, describes how the pressure of an inviscid material decreases as the flow of the material increases, and why the disgusting shower drape in cheap motels is pulled toward the person in the shower. I’m sure that I noticed that effect when I was about 6 years old, and had it not been already figured out, I know I would have come up with it eventually! But the days of simply thinking really, really hard and coming up with a “discovery” are long gone.Or are they? I have a good one, I think… and with the right presentation and help from readers, I might become famous. Or not. Either way, it’s worth a shot…. So, I’d like to introduce Junig’s Warm Coat Theory of Psychotropic Prescribing, or what I suggest the medical field refers to as the “JWCT” (I know—the title needs work!).

Back when I was an anesthesiologist, surgeons sometimes used the phrase “better is the enemy of good.” The point was that in some surgeries the best approach was to remove the infected or diseased tissue, stop the bleeding, close up ASAP, and get the patient back to the ICU. Spending another 4 hours picking at the tissue to make everything pretty risked a drop in the patient’s body temperature, a decrease in clotting and immune function, and an increased stress response, all in turn increasing the odds of a bad surgical outcome. I have to give credit where credit is due and note that the warm coat theory is similar in some ways to the “enemy of good” phrase that I have heard recited over the years. In fact, it is entirely possible that the unconscious parts of my mind stole the phrase and adapted it to psychiatry. If that is the case, I’m sorry for the actions of my unconscious—and I plead ignorance to the entire affair!

When prescribing medication for psychiatric conditions—for example, ADD or anxiety—the patient might note positive effects initially but then at some point ask, “maybe I’d do better with a higher dose; should we try a little more?” With any medication for any condition, there is a balance between positive effects of the medication and risks or side effects from the medication. Serotonin medications work well for depression and anxiety, but as their doses are increased, they will eventually cause sexual side effects. At still higher doses, they may cause drowsiness or nausea. The positive effects of a medication go up with dose, but the side effects increase as well. The goal for the patient and physician is to find the proper balance between positive effects and negative side effects. For example, if the patient has no interest in sex and doesn’t wantto be interested in sex, sexual side effects should not limit the dose. Nausea or sedation, on the other hand, may be barriers to dose increases. Different people have different concerns about risks and side effects, and different people have different needs for higher doses of medication. These differences, by the way, are why I maintain that psychiatrists should spend more time with patients than they do—but that’s another topic for another day.

Before we Wisconsin folks go outside in January, we take a look at the Weather Channel and dress accordingly. But we don’t dress for 14 degrees F; we dress for “pretty darn cold.” If I’m going to a Packers game, I’ll put on my long-johns (too much information?), jeans, and the snowsuit from Fleet Farm (that changed my life when I finally bought it, after suffering a few football seasons without it). I’ll also wear a stocking cap and maybe even a facemask, and of course a thick pair of gloves. At some point during the game, if the drunken guys squeeze in way-too-close on each side of me take off their shirts so their body heat radiates toward me and warms me up, I’ll take off my facemask and maybe my cap. By the end of the game, I might even have my own shirt off if the sun is out. Of course, the guys next to me might have enough of the game at some point and spend the rest of the game at the bar, just as the sun disappears behind a thick layer of clouds. Then, I’ll put the heavy stuff back on, and maybe rub my hands together or do some jumping around to raise my body heat. If I get cold enough, I’ll go inside and warm up for a few possessions. The point is that I don’t bring along a spring jacket to change into when I’m warm, and I don’t bring extra coats for when I’m cold. Instead I change my activity, my location, or make minor adjustments to my wardrobe.

According to the warm coat approach, I suggest that patients think of their psychiatric medications in a way similar to how I think of dressing for a Packers game in January. At the time the person wonders about a higher dose, he/she is getting a good response from the medication, usually with a low amount of side effects. At this point, “better” may be the enemy of “good.” The person is essentially wearing a warm coat in January. There is no need to run home and pick up a few more coats; the better action is to change behavior to fine-tune the degree of symptom relief. If the target symptoms are attention problems and the current dose of stimulant has taken the person 85% of the way, the correct action is to adjust behavior. Find a quiet location for studying. Get enough sleep. Come up with reminders and plan ahead, to avoid time crunches that interfere with performance. These are better approaches than increasing the dose of stimulant, which might raise blood pressure or lead to addictive problems. If the target symptoms are anxiety-related, work on positive self-talk and try to gain insight into why the anxiety is there in the first place. Learn to relax using deep breaths or by taking a walk to get away from the stressful environment.

If Junig’s Warm Coat Approach becomes big, some day you’ll be telling your grandchildren about the day you first read it, before anyone was talking about it. They’ll look up at you with big eyes and say “Wow!”   

Or not. Either way, I for one think the idea has legs!