John M Deirmenjian, MD

Very rude receptions. She answers phone for his both locations! Never care much about patients. And very weird policy. Since Im a foreigner I travel home very often and they won’t agree to make an appointment because I didn’t come for a while. This is not the type of Dr you supposed to change once you found one. What physiatrist is it that won’t see you again because you were travel? I believe physiatrist should help, not punish you without reasons. And lady on a phone just makes all worse!!!

I had an appointment this morning with Dr. D and I was pleasantly surprised. I read some negative reviews on Unilocal,so I was a little nervous. But, this doctor was extremely pleasant and helpful. The staff was very kind as well. I felt completely at ease once meeting the knowledgable doctor, he listened and explained things equally well. He cares about finding the perfect treatment plan for you, whether it is something he can provide or not (such as cognitive behavioral therapy). The office is nice and quiet and in a good location, plenty of metered parking nearby. I would recommend this place to anyone I care about.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Deirmenjian for a little over a year now. It’s not an easy thing to find the right psychiatrist; I’m so grateful that I finally did! He knows his business and has found the perfect combination for me. As we all know it sometimes takes a lot of trial and error. I am one very thankful patient!

So I was recommended by my therapist to this doctor and promptly made a new patient appointment. 8 days prior to the appointment I realized I wouldn’t be able to go due to a scheduling conflict and I tried to reschedule. Well they were completely unreasonable and said they «don’t reschedule appointments». So basically I had to either keep the appointment or cancel which is what I ultimately did. This is the most ridiculous policy I ever heard. Also the woman on the phone was FAR from friendly. I’m just actually glad this happened as it allows me to look for someone that hopefully will be more reasonable and understands that people have a life and in life stuff happens and sometimes you need to reschedule.

Unfortunately, due to my medical condition, I was unable to make my appointment. I called to cancel and reschedule, yet never received a call back. I followed-​up with a call today and was told that it is their policy that if new patients cancel, they do not reschedule… EVER. No exceptions. I have never heard of such a policy. This is a psychiatrist that is supposed to be in the business of helping people. Not everything is black and white, as he of all people should know. One strike and you’re out is pretty harsh for this business — I feel like I’ve been sentenced to death row. I have to say that although this is the most obsurd thing I have heard in a while, I am thankful I canceled and they have this policy, as it says a lot about this doctor’s character and saved me from putting my well being in this man’s hands. I hope the sharing of my experience directs others away from this doctor.

I love, Dr. D! He’s the first doctor to ever prescribe me the exact medication for my needs. Even though visits with him are brief, I can tell he cares.

This review is way overdue. It seems a bit weird to review a doctor on Unilocal (especially a psychiatrist), but I think he deserves the recognition. I’m pretty sure he saved my life.
I have been a patient of Dr. Deirmenjian for over two years, and he is perhaps one of the finest medical professionals I have ever encountered (and I’ve had several).
Why? Because he cares, he’s compassionate, and I know that he has my best interest in mind. I trust him. Other psychiatrists have tried to just send me off with a prescription for something I have told them gives me horrible side effects, but Dr. D actually listened and offered other options that seriously changed my life for the better. His office staff is rock solid as well and was able to get 40+ sessions of TMS approved for one $ 30 copay (YMMV).
Let me put it this way: I live in San Diego; when he had to close his Temecula office and his nearest location turned out to be Long Beach, I stuck with him because I trust him and don’t want to risk starting over with someone I don’t know. I drive two hours to Long Beach to see him, and it’s worth it. Thank you Dr. Deirmenjian.

Am I actually writing a Unilocal review on a doctor? Yes, yes I am. And the reason why is because I don’t think he deserves these negative reviews.
I live in the valley and getting to him isn’t the easiest but after seeing him for 3 months it’s worth it. He does have an office in Glendale which makes more sense for me to go to but his hours on Wilshire work best for me.
On my first visit I was a bit intimidated based on his reviews but as soon as we started speaking it all went away. My first appointment was about 30 minutes long. He was getting my physical and mental history, wanted to know why I was there and what I wanted out of seeing him. He was (and always is) super polite, attentive and I’ve never felt rushed. Plus he was super sympathetic to things that my female PCP was totally aloof about which made me feel like I wasn’t sooooo crazy. Just you know, a little bit!
He’s a psychiatrist, not a therapist. His appointments aren’t meant to last 55 minutes. 10 – 15 is the norm if everything is going well and he always asks how things are going overall as well as how the medication is working for me to see if he needs to make any adjustments.
I think he’s great, his staff is always polite over the phone and in person and the office on Wilshire is immaculate.

Not sure why all the bad stars. I found him to be very caring and helpful. Didn’t suggest anything I didn’t need and fit me in to his busy schedule when I had to see him before leaving for a long trip.

Dr Deirmejian is a 5 star excellent Doctor. I’ve seen him for over 8 years. I think he’s a great person and very good Doctor. I highly recommend Dr D.

The phone staff here is completely braindead, with nonsensical replies, shifting information, and even medical advice! Sorry, like most, I’m not calling for a receptionist’s opinion. The other reviews make this place sound like a pill mill, and I was even told there are certain medications that the doctor «no longer prescribes,» which is something I’ve never heard before outside of a legal restriction.
AVOID!

To those who give this guy 5 stars and suggest that the many who pan him just don’t know the difference between psychologist and psychiatrist — YO! Any doctor who is prescribing heavy or mild psychotropic drugs better damn well have more than 5 minutes for a patient. This dude is in it for the quick turn and your co-​pay. My experience with him made me fear for all of his patients. And when I pushed to have some time with him I found he is almost as quick to anger as he is to take your 20 bucks. People keep coming back because he is quick to write a script. I do NOT recommend him if you need drugs where the dosage has to be managed and monitored — because he just will not be mindful or engaged
.

I think the prior reviews are confusing psychiatrist with psychologist. He is a 5-​star psychiatrist, and he is not supposed to serve in a psychologist’s capacity. Psychologists sit with you for a hour, explore how you feel, and advise you how to cope (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, etc etc). Psychiatrists communicate with psychologists, analyze the data provided, and confirm the info with the client. At that point, if it is felt medicine is necessary, he will prescribe based on his evaluation, which takes 5−15min. Psychologists counsel and cannot prescribe. Psychiatrists prescribe, with limited counsel; enough to make sure everything is on course. He’s one of the best in the biz, as long as you understand the difference.

One star for this «psychologist» he put me on a high dose of Welbutrin, made me feel insane. I was refused treatment due to a 48 hour lapse in insurance. The Co pay was $ 40… I was literally thinking Suicide. God bless my family and friends for taking care of me. John M. Deirmenjian is a horrible doctor. Ever heard of the Hippocratic Oath Dr???
Horrible human being!

I saw Dr. Deirmenjian for quite a few years. My depression and anxiety was continuously worsening and my life was becoming more and more difficult to endure. He had me on anti-​anxiety rx that I became addicted to and told him that I had to come off of it. He put me on another and the same thing. I was also rx’d anti-​depressants and he gladly offered other powerful mood stabilizers with uppers, more downers and heavy duty sleep sedatives. I thought this was the only way I could live my life. I was never informed that I needed to have my vitals and organs checked. Every few months he wanted to up my doses on EVERYTHING! His office reminded me of a pharmacy in Tijuana. People came and left holding new rx scripts and bags of samples. I came to realize that I needed professional help to undo what has been done for all those years. The detox was pure agony and I came to find out that my organs had taken a severe beating and will never work the same again. Now I am being treated with one small dose of antidepressant and my life is manageable, livable and most of all, enjoyable. Who knew I didn’t need to be sedated like an elephant to get through the day. I highly suggest you go somewhere else. Go to a Dr. who truly cares about you, your well being, quality of life and not the kickbacks they get from the rx companies.

I saw Dr. Dermenjian several years ago and after about 2 months of treatment filed a complaint against him with my insurance provider. My visits were exactly 5 minutes each time, but he was billing my insurance for 20 minute sessions. What a crook!
When I asked follow up questions beyond 5 minutes, I was shooed out of his office. At the time I was struggling with severely crippling depression and suicidality along with many other extenuating circumstances and untreated conditions beyond that, and it takes more than 5 minutes to describe what I was struggling with.
In a period of about 2 months I was cross tapered between 3 different psych meds, one of which I was given a coupon for to get a free trial (obviously given to him by a pharmaceutical rep). I was so emotionally unstable at the time that this created severe chaos in my life. How can I trust a doctor to have my best interest at heart when he’s feeding me pills that he’s getting kickbacks for from big pharma?
Another time, I called to have my prescription refilled, and his assistant called in the script with the same medication but a different form that gave me debilitating panic attacks for an entire day. Unacceptable!!!
If you have an appointment with this guy, do yourself a favor and find someone else. ANYONE else. Treatment with this doctor was the worst psychiatric experience of my life.

Strange experience. Would avoid. Seems like a nice enough guy. But, ultimately was ineffectual and borderline dangerous to varying degrees.

He gets two stars because he has a talent for finding the right prescription. However his and his assistants treatment of people could lead them to have a psychotic breakdown alone. The Dr will spend time getting to know your situation on the first appointment but after that you get 5 min. That’s what I expected, he is a pill pusher not a psychologist. He isn’t in it to help you with your problems his main purpose is to prescribe pills.
BUT, good luck getting his office to actually submit your refill. Considering that missing even one pill could cause suicidal tendencies you would think they would be more careful. I use a mail service pharmacy because it saves money. Three times in a row when my pharmacy submitted the refill form to Dr. Deirmenjian’s office they never responded. His male assistants excuse was always that he didn’t get it. Another time it was that they faxed it to the wrong office. Or he would say that he faxed it but my pharmacy didn’t have it. Each time it took 3 – 5 weeks to get a refill because it was the same debacle. Fortunately the mail order service provides a 90 day supply. The last time I put in for a refill his office just never responded. When I finally got a hold of his assistant 2 weeks after the refill request was made he said the doctor said he wouldn’t refill the prescription because I hadn’t come in for an appointment in 8 months. Why didn’t they call me to tell me that 2 weeks ago! I was never made aware of a time limit and was never asked to come in for an appointment within any time frame. I said I would come in, but was leaving out of town and would run out of pills before I could come in. The doctor still refused! His female assistant helping me this time became a robot repeating the same scripted response over and over showing no understanding of the severity of the situation, treated me like I was some sort of derelict because I hadn’t come in and when I got upset and told her that the doctor was irresponsible by ignoring my refill request and threatened to report this to the license board she hung up on me. Then I got a call from the doctor yelling at me saying that I had to find a new doctor and I threatened again that if he left me in a position to run out of pills I would report him. I got my pills but clearly found a new doctor who responsibly runs her business and understands that her clients need to be handled with care. They are on psych meds after all.

If you just need a refill, he’s great but if you’re trying to get actual mental health care, id go elsewhere.
As a side note, I came in today to get medical records and the troll of a rexeptionist made me wait for 30 minutes because their printer was broken (even though I called yesterday to say I was coming to pick them up). As I sat in the waiting room, I was treated to the ‘soothing’ sounds of Kanye West and Jay-Z’s song «N*ggas in Paris» — yes, that’s the n word if you weren’t sure — don’t get me wrong, I love to get down to this sort of music… when I’m out at a club. If I didn’t need mental health meds before, I do now bec it was so loud and obnoxious that I felt. like I was losing my mind

I like him! He is straight and to the point. Just what I was looking for. Appointments are quick, so if you need an hour of pouring over your deepest thoughts, a psychologist or therapist is the way to go.