psychiatric hotline

The largest managed-care business in the Washington area just installed voice mail on their psychiatric hotline.

Callers are prompted as follows:

"Welcome to the psychiatric hotline.

If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2.

If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5, and 6.

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line so we can trace the call.

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press.

If you are depressed, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.

If you are delusional, please be aware that the thing you are holding on the side of your head is alive and about to bite your ear off.

If you are ambivalent, please hang up and call back in a few minutes.

If you are comatose, stuporous, or obtunded, press each number from 9 to 1 backwards, and then leave your name and number when you hear the beep.

If you would like to speak to a physician, pleased be advised that your plan requires a second opinion and a 30 day waiting period before you can receive this service, which has been designated nonessential."