Dr Kagan has helped me so much over the last 8 years.

Submitted June 22, 2020

I CHECKED MYSELF IN to the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital for suicidal depression on the advice of my therapist. Dr. Kagan was assigned my case. During my first meeting with him (with his 8 residents,) his first comment was about the graphic on my shirt, which said "deny everything." I don't know if he was trying to be clever, which he failed to do, so I just said, "It's a shirt, not a mantra." When he started reading off of his notes, he stated that "My parents had checked me in," despite the fact that the original admission paperwork only listed them as emergency contacts. I explained to Dr. Kagan that this was almost the opposite of the truth. I had worked at UCLA and knew that parking cost $11/day. I live about 3 miles away, so I called my family to get a ride there so I could keep my car parked at home for free. He completely ignored me, and proceeded to start my treatment by cutting off my psychopharmaceutical regimen. Some of these medications are not supposed to be stopped cold turkey, but that didn't seem to bother him.
In the meantime, because he didn't listen to anything I said, he put me on a 3-day hold, despite the fact that I had admitted myself voluntarily, which meant I could check out whenever I wanted! (Good bye, civil rights!) He then cut off my very low dose, absolutely necessary, prescription sleep medication, without even considering just lowering the dose. This was on a Friday, so there was nothing I could do. The entire nursing staff knew the story about my not getting a wink of sleep, because I chatted with the overnight bed-check nurses every time they came to look in on me. There seemed to be genuine surprise among the staff, because he's supposed to be the best doctor there. Fortunately, the staff got the on-call doctor to come in (on Saturday) to fix the order so that I could receive the small dose of medication I should have had. Even he was surprised and confused about why that was also cut off -- it's not standard practice. I had been up for around 36 hours by then. When he saw me on Monday - the second of the two times he actually had me in his presence, all he said was that he "understood" that I "didn't sleep too well" over the weekend. No apology, nor even any acknowledgement that he had anything to do with it. He then said that he was considering moving to the next level, which would be a two-week hold. Fortunately, and probably because he never bothered to talk to me, and never listened to any of the nurses, who are the doctor's main source of information about the patient's day-to-day condition. Also, other than "art therapy" (colouring books, clay, origami frogs if you were up to it), and a couple of game nights (Pictionary and bingo,) there was absolutely NO therapy provided.
So this "most caring, kindest, knowledgeable, competent, personable, sympathetic" doctor didn't listen to anything I said, ignored medical records provided by my clinical psychologist, decimated my biochemical treatment within two days, even cutting off my ability to get to sleep, and somehow managed to get someone who admitted themselves put on an involuntary hold, and then threatened to extend that hold. All while providing absolutely no therapeutic intervention.
I have more confidence in the negative comments listed here than the positive ones. Oh, and I was sent over to the partial program, but that was mysteriously yanked out from under me. DEFINITELY NOT THE BEST.

Submitted June 6, 2018

The whole Partial Hospitalization program is amazing. I have Medicare and Medi-Cal. The only way they accept Medi-cal is if you're under 18, or a senior citizen.Iwas very nervous I wouldn't be. Able to pay my 20% responsibility for Medicare, but thankfully they have a financial forgiveness program, and I didn't have to pay my portion Medicare didn't pay!! Dr. Kagan is the most thoughtful!and knowledgable doctor I've come across. It was the first time I truly felt safe and supported.

Submitted Aug. 1, 2013

One of the best doctor's I've ever had. He truly cared about getting to the bottom of my issues. Unlike most doctor's he wasn't cold, short and impatient. He was personable and sympathetic while all the time being professional and thoughtful. When I was ready to give up, he wasn't. The negative reviews here do not sound at all like the doctor I know. One of the reasons I wish I still lived in LA.

Submitted May 18, 2011

Dr. Kagan is a very caring and knowledgeable in his profession.He has helped our daughter while she attended the UCLA partial program. We surely appreciate his kindness. He was always calm and very informative during our family meetings. He shows concern and care for his patients. What a great doctor!

Submitted Feb. 2, 2011

Extremely knowledgeable, professional, creative, and a kind person. Takes the time to discuss your concerns, answer questions, and educate you on your illness and treatment, and unlike many others in this profession, actually listens to and appreciates your feedback. Would HIGHLY recommend this physician.

Submitted Sept. 11, 2010

Brilliant, caring, best listener I've ever seen (of doctors), spent way more time with me than I expected, took the time to explain even molecular details of why he was recommending medications, took explicit responsibility for my care (including apologizing when things weren't working...!!!). Can't imagine a better doctor. Shame on the person who reviewed him four times here to bring the rating down. Psychiatry is an inexact science, hardly Dr. Kagan's fault. Please. And the partial program referenced by another poster is fairly ethnically diverse. There are long wait times, yes, but symptom severity/inpatient experience weigh more than color, $$$, etc.

Submitted May 8, 2010

I was assigned to him as an inpatient at UCLA. The previous doctors were very attentive and concerned, but no appointment with him lasted for more than 1 minute and he discharged me in 2 days. Waited a month to get into his partial program while he told me that it was full. Yet, several caucasian friends I made started and finished the program while he was telling me it was full. Went back 2 months later and went through the same thing again. Was given 4 different reasons for why I was being denied treatment and each answer was disproven by other people I know in the program. I was lied to for months waiting to be treated, when they could have said they did not want me in the program and I would have been free to seek treatment elsewhere. This is patently unethical. I was in need of treatment and he kept me waiting while my white friends were getting into the program in 3 days tops. People like him should not hold the keys to treatment-

Submitted Dec. 16, 2009

Ignored a brain tumor/seizure disorder and instead came up with diagnosis of severe depression; prescribed cointraindicated medication that almost killed me. Prior to discharge, demanded direct cash payment in order to secure names of possible follow-up outpatient providers.

Submitted Dec. 11, 2007

He is kind, extremely competent, knowledgeable and professional.

Submitted June 27, 2007