Dr. Joy Dana Riskin, MD

Dr Riskin is one of the top psychiatrists I have seen. She is a great listener, knows when to challenge my assumptions and has a vast and current knowledge of psychopharmacological treatments. I have been around the block a lot with different doctors over decades and she nailed my diagnosis right away and has moved me in a new direction. I am so grateful I have found her.

I saw Dr. Riskin after my third child was born, having engaged her prior to the birth anticipating postpartum depression. At that time i recounted all my symptoms and as much detailed medical information as she chose to elicit, although she did not then or ever conduct a full DSM history. I began seeing her a few months after the birth. Throughout the time I was under her care, she treated me for unipolar depression, despite numerous symptoms of (and my use of the term) hypomania, a well known, acknowledged indicia of bipolar disorder. She prescribed several SSRIs, which were then already known to trigger & worsen manias in bipolar people, which they did--making me think I was getting better.... As my condition worsened, a psychiatrist -a friend whose wife was bipolar--urged me to consider a mood stabilizer. I reported this directly to Dr. Riskin, in response to which she told me flatly that a mood stabilizer was not the right drug for me and took no steps to investigate the… possibility of a misdiagnosis. She continued treatment with SSRIs. By this time, sinking into a clinical depression ad now despairing of improvement, my worried family and friends located a psychopharmacologist (I only later realized I should never have been consulting a psychiatrist without formal training in the administration of psychopharmacological medications) who spent over thirty minutes determining the exact nature of my illness, inquiring specifically about my manias, their duration, and frequency--in short, asking all the questions Dr. Riskin had never asked. I the same visit he promptly diagnosed me with severe Bipolar 2, noted that a medical student could well have done the same, given my symptoms and clear history, and wondered aloud how it was I had not yet lost my job yet. This doctor helped turn things around, stabilize my mood, eliminate the recurrent manias and give me hope for emotional and mental health, but way too late to assure full recovery. The damage to me, my marriage, and my kids still haunts us.

Moved around the country a lot, so seen many psychiatrists. I've seen her for 5 years. She's one of the best: not just med management, she delves into CBT, counseling, etc. and genuinely cares. Her straightforwardness is appreciated, though sometimes it's hard to hear. Very pleased with my care.

Self-absorbed, did not feel like she was truly paying attention. Recycled clinical terms without giving the impression she had true comprehension. Had to stop going.

Everything you would want in a therapist.Prompt, responsive, caring and compassionate.