Multispecialty Psychiatry Clinic- UT Southwestern

“I'm tempted to leave two reviews, but I'll average them together. My experience has been mixed. On the one hand, my psychiatrist Dr. Dykema is genuinely great, and I would recommend him to anyone. On the other, Eric Shellhorn--the nurse that replaced him while he was out--is a quack and nearly cost me my life. 5 and 0 average to 2.5, and that's about what the average here says. Dr. Dykema is a human being, one who listens to what you say, considers your feelings, and tries to work within your comfort zone. He spends as much time as you need. He actually seems to care, and treats your concerns as things to consider before he just gives an answer. He has spent countless hours trying to find an answer that will help me without hurting me, and I am very grateful to have him on my side. On the flipside, Eric Shellhorn subbed for him during a break, and prescribed me an anti-psychotic for med-resistant depression, dismissing my concern that I'd already failed 10 other drugs. A few months later, I told him I wanted out. I had lost all emotion. I couldn't even smile. I'd read that the med in question had scary withdrawals--but when I said this, Shellhorn looked amused. He insisted there were no withdrawals, so I could just stop taking it. Do me a favor and look up Latuda withdrawals. I'll wait. While you're at it, look up rebound symptoms. I'll spare you the gory details, but three days off Latuda, I discovered what REAL fear feels like. It's like free-falling from a plane. I spent that first week in a state of terror-induced psychosis, unable to eat or sleep. I lost 17 pounds. By day 3, every sharp object felt magnetized to my hand. Like it was the only answer. Not a choice, but a question of when. I didn't have a future. All I had was a brain full of broken glass, put there by someone meant to help me, and that no one would do a damn thing about it. I had genuinely gone insane--and no one listens to a mental patient. With the help of several elements, including Dr. Dykema, I recovered--but I will never forget that a nurse at this hospital nearly got me killed, instead of looking up an answer. Gaslit me into taking a drug I didn't trust, then told me to stop cold-turkey, because it would be fine. If Eric Shellhorn is the norm for UTSW, the reviews make sense. And that's deeply disturbing.”

“DO NOT see Dr. Fedorochenco. He is not very empathetic. He is dismissive, lacks engagement with any specific concerns, and does not align himself with the best clinical practices. Many information he will give you will be incorrect(other doctors have had to correct him). He will provide care in only the way that he wants. It is not collaborative care like things should be between a patient and a doctor. If you go see him for addiction after reading this and you end up relapsing or having to unnecessarily go to the ER, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“LISTEN TO THESE REVIEWS! My experience with Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu at UTSW was extremely upsetting. I came in for help with addiction medicine after years of medical trauma, and instead of being treated with understanding, I was met with suspicion from the moment I sat down. He questioned the legitimacy of documents that were legally required in my medical file, assumed I had been “pharmacy shopping” without checking any facts, and dismissed my explanation for why I requested Subutex. He also told me something about my former doctor that was completely untrue and caused me a great deal of distress - something that could have been corrected with a quick look at the medical board’s website. I left the appointment feeling judged, dismissed, and retraumatized. People seeking help for addiction or medication transitions deserve compassion and professionalism, not assumptions and misinformation. This was not the care I expected from UTSW.”

“they will not listen to you about your own care. my psychiatrist here is great i had a wonderful experience with Dr. Moore and her resident Julia. however the lady i spoke to who was supposed to place me into therapy blatantly ignored my wants and needs. do NOT go see Shamsad Taxiwala if you are a skinny girl with mood disorders because she completely disregarded my PTSD and MDD despite Dr. Moore saying they were my most pressing symptoms and me agreeing. she instead told me she was going to place me with an "eating disorder specialist" and after i told her that i didn't agree with that because i have already been given resources and supports for ARFID, she placed me in biweekly exposure therapy anyways. she takes her assumptions and runs with them and does not put all relevant information in the notes so it fits her narrative.”