Reviews of Polakoff Steven A MD (Psychiatrist)

Vincent Broglio

A fantastic doctor. He listens to the patient and really knows what he's doing as a prescriber. My last psychiatrist had a horrible attitude. Dr. Polakoff, on the other hand, is a compassionate individual. As a matter of fact, I missed my appointment yesterday and showed up today thinking it was now. He's managing to squeeze me in. I've never been so stable in my life with his care.

Trevor Davis

When I have a medication refill request or question, he or his office manager almost always gets back to me within the hour which is very unusual in my experience. He is up to date on the latest research. He does accept samples but I don't know if he receives pharm reps for detailing. I don't know if he accepts any payments from pharm for speaking, consulting or IIR. Appointments with Dr. Polakoff are similar to other psychiatrists. 15 minute medication management. As far as I know, he does not do psychotherapy. His office is accessible by Metro.

William Butler

I was referred to this doctor by an acquaintance. You are much better off looking at the Washingtonian's list of best psychiatrists than going with this doctor. I could say a lot more, but I think that's the fairest assessment I can offer.

Kristen Scott

The phone goes straight to voicemail every time. I found out he was going to retire in 3 weeks on his answering machine after I called about panic attacks.

Katherine Greenwald

my mother saw dr. polakoff for over a decade. her treatment was never stable and it had the worst possible end result- she took her own life. though what passed between them was confidential, i can say my mother never really found peace under his care. she was being treated for schizophrenia and clinical depression. she ended up committing suicide. he said he had no idea and that he wished she had seen him more. why didn’t he reach out? the only answer I can come to is that he didn’t want to be bothered. it was plain her treatment was rote and he had little to no grasp of her situation. it is also bewildering how someone familiar with these illnesses can be so hands off. in all the years of her treatment, he never checked in and she suffered throughout her time with him. his bedside manner, is notoriously chilly and, in the end, his treatment of my mother was entirely unsuccessful. I take no pleasure in writing this review but hope it at least provides some insight into what has happened to some of his clients. mental illness is real and painful and shrouded in silence. I called dr. polakoff 1 month or so before my mother ended her life and as far as I could tell nothing much changed between then and the time of her death. he also, despite saying otherwise, never insisted she see a counselor. the truth is it was only by outside insistence, not the doctors, that she started to see someone two years ago (at least 8 years after seeing dr. polakoff) and I believe he was entirely unaware of this. in the beginning, over 10 years ago, he says he put her in touch with someone. if so, it was the wrong fit and it practically didnt last. in typical polakoff fashion, he washed his hands of it and continued to treat my moms case as one that was rote and without interest. that is the way it is w. Mr. polakoff. he treats very sick people and expects them to be completely capable and tough minded and in control of their treatment. I can not shake the feeling he just never much cared. my mother for some reason was loyal to him, though it was plain to me for a long time and to others that he was not helping her at all. quite the opposite. it got worse and worse and in the end she jumped off a bridge. think twice before seeing dr. polakoff

david robbins

In my case he prescribed janitorial doses of amphetamines repeatedly to a family member who had an anxiety disorder and continued to do so until a pharmacy called to tell him he had over prescribed and they refused to fill the prescription. He had not seen the pt in over two years and repeatedly prescribed these drugs with just a few minutes of telephone contact. I do not believe that this is quality care.