David Kraus, MD

was a patient of Kraus for close to a year. keeps ny metro in adderall and xanax. absolute scumbag. high during visits. never remembered my face or name. cash only. if you want to get high see him. only reason. he prescribed for my adhd for a year. i moved away, came back to nyc three years later, had no doctor, returned to him and was told by his covering doctor, a man named «brooks», who hit on me, that no records of mine existed at the office. criminal.

Unless you have already been a patient of him and need a rx– do NOT come here. They «are not taking any new patients»… That is… Unless you want to pay $ 250 CASH (untraceable and untaxable cash straight to this guys pockets). That’s just for the first visit.
Every visit after the first visit is $ 200 CASH.
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT COME HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN A «PATIENT»
Waiting room is a mess. I waited an hour for them to tell me this.
Creepy dude and unprofessional staff. Doesn’t care at all about anyone and didn’t even shake my hand to meet me.
Completely unprofessional.
Was looking for a new Dr. to replace my last one in CA and Dr. Krauss is not it.
Scams and many illegal operations going on here with the cash payment thing.
NOPE!

I love Dr Kraus. He is wonderful. He knows his trade and is not a pill pusher. He listens. and when he speaks to you, hang on to that couch, you just listen to what he has to say. I adore him and feel bad because he is not in network. and he is not easy to replace. He is a great doc and a wonderful shrink.

Basically all the reviews here are accurate. You’re in and out with the doc in five minutes. He bills the insurance company for 45.

I have insurance, but since he always gave me such a hard time about the ‘right’ paperwork to bring and yelled at me even when I brought the things he specifically asked for, I gave up and just paid the $ 150 cash each time. After a year of seeing him I left NYC for a few months. When I returned I went to see him again. My entire medical chart of over a yr+ was one piece of computer paper with just a few of his handwritten scribbles on it. It was so sloppy, he couldn’t read his own writing and gave me 2 incorrect prescriptions and refused to give me another because he could not remember previously writing it. I had to then go to my pharmacy, have them print out my records of them filling it with him as the prescribing Dr and take it back to him. Since I had left work early the previous night only to wait over 3 hours with about 30 other people to be seen while he was late then took personal calls and refused to see patients, I could not leave work early again. I paid out of pocket for a messenger to hand deliver the documents to him. Big mistake. The messenger called saying he was being difficult and yelling at him. So I left work in Midtown to go downtown and deal with him. I walk in and he is sitting in his ‘waiting room’ sweaty, pants unbuttoned, wild eyes. He blew up as soon as I asked what was wrong, threatened to call the police if I did not leave, and refused to give me back my papers. He was the one who demanded I come down to his office. I don’t know what his problem is. If you clearly don’t NEED, but WANT an adderall or anti-​anxiety script, go see him I guess. But I now see a normal Dr who I pay a $ 30 co pay each visit, who is on time, PLEASANT, has an office phone number, and writes the same prescriptions he did. It is possible to find a Dr who gives you what you need (if you truly need it) and who will actually show some modicum of concern for you as a patient without having to sustain significant verbal abuse and blatantly disrespectful behavior. I did it for over a year because I was new to NYC. Never again– this man is way more of a threat to mental health then he is any sort of treatment. BEWARE.

My visit today was far the worse experience going to see a doctor. He is unpleasant, late and troll-​like. If you want to be at your wits end to get your melds, he’s your guy. I myself would rather have a panic attack then go see him again. It was really that bad.

All doctors are different, Dr k is very good in that he is less conservative than other docs. I had issues where after researching, i found a «certain drug «to be my answer. I went to several other docs, and they were afraid to prescribe it to me. Then i heard about dr krauss, and he was comfortable prescribing it. In and out in under 5 minutes. How great is that?
Then one month, i missed my dr K appointment and had to go to another doc, I asked for my «certain drug» and he said no, then I showed my bottle and said its a refill because my usual doc is out of town, and suddenly it was ok to prescribe it.
I guess most docs are afraid to be the first one to take the leap and prescribe something with «certain connotations» Thank goodness for brave ppl like dr k.
Dr k„ he is 100% legit.
Everything he does is legal and within his scope of practice.
The meds he prescribes are based on your complaint, and he assesses your condition like any other doctor. Very fast he does it, but fast does not mean bad.
He wont prescribe you drugs that may harm you as he do ask you what else you are on and what medical conditions you have.
I like dr krauss.
His style is not for everyone, but if you are educated, know what treatment you want to try for your condition, he can help you.
If you need an hour to talk about your problems, please go elsewhere and don’t hold up the line outside.

I’m honestly amazed this guy still has a license. He is a drug dispensing doctor, that’s the long and short of it. For those who praise him because they «know what they want,» it’s true he’ll write a prescription for pretty much anything you want. In fact, for some of the more popular drugs like adderal you’ll likely need to go to a pharmacy at least few blocks away. The pharmacist at the Duane Reade closest to his office says they often run out due to the incredible number of prescriptions this guy gives out.
He triple and quadruple books his appointments, since most of them consist of simply writing a prescription and sending you out the door. And yet in that tiny window of time he manages to be completely rude and obnoxious.
So if you actually need any kind of psychiatric help, look elsewhere. But if you just want someone to take your insurance money and write you a prescription, he’s your guy. And also you’re an idiot.
Seriously, is there no oversight for this kind of thing?

Dumpy office. Walk in knowing what you want to get out of your short visit and don’t expect anything in the form of bedside manners, real care and concern, conversation, or any dialogue, period.
If you keep your expectations low and strictly focused on your main objective, then this drive-​through style MD is for you… if you’re into that kind of care.

why isn’t there a zero stars option? geez! i’ve given him a few chances but he wanted cash upfront three times and billed insurance? double payment.
i showed him the claims and he said i was cray cray! i guess he would be ok if you’re into someone writing out scripts for whatever you want and don’t care if he’s billing you and the insurance company?

This guy, Dr. Kraus, is one of the most unprofessional doctors I’ve have ever experienced in over 20 years of being in therapy. The office has no receptionist, no one to greet you, and has boxes laying around the waiting area. When I finally saw him (after waiting over 20 minutes past my scheduled visit) with just my insurance card, he turned me away for not having enough documentation. When I told him that that’s what the toll-​free provider number was for, he said «Well, I’m not going to spend 30 minutes on the phone with the insurance company – that’s your job.» Obviously this guy cares more about getting paid and than the level of care of his patients.

Just repeating what everyone else says. His office is dirty with stacks of papers strewn all over the room. I gave him a second chance because he had just moved offices at our first meeting, but it was just as bad the second time. At our meeting, he didn’t introduce himself but just asked for my insurance. Then I sat there for ten minutes in silence while he searched for my paperwork and then filled out a claim. He didn’t make eye contact the whole time and clearly wanted me in and out as quickly as possible. I won’t be returning.

Preamble
— — — — -
I have been in and out of Doctor’s offices and Emergency Rooms for 4 months with no diagnosis.
I have been having life-​threatening symptoms and attacks; shortness of breath, tightness in neck and chest when taking breaths, lightheaded and feeling feint, congestion and chronic cough and clearing the throat.
The first visit to Maimonides ER 4/​1, I received a Chest Xray and EKG, everything was normal and received no treatment. The second visit (6/12)I was prescribed Prednisone and Albuterol for Chronic Bronchitis. The third visit was by ambulance; my blood pressure was 190/​100, humans have strokes at around ²⁵⁰⁄₁₁₀.
All of their guesses, since they didn’t run any tests apart from Chest Xray and EKG, were conditions that cause anxiety. Anxiety and stress also cause physical conditions to worsen. After being brought by ambulance and almost blacking out, I asked the Resident Dr. for something to calm me down to stop the feedback loop and synergy between the anxiety and any possible physical condition. He prescribed 10 tablets of .25mg Xanax. Very small amount and dosage.
I’m sure he would be scolded for prescribing it because it’s a «psychiatric» drug, despite it being such a small amount that it’s not enough to cause dependency or addiction. I picked it up on the way home. and was void of about 80% of my physical symptoms that had been haunting me day in day out. Constant congestion, clearing the throat, coughing so much that my; lymph nodes, neck and left shoulder was sore.
He only prescribed me enough for 2 days, which was exactly enough to get my to an appointment with my GI specialist for an endoscopy. The first visit about 2 months earlier (⁴⁄₁) to Maimonides ER said «Unknown cause» on the discharge papers, but the doctors told me verbally that it «was probably panic attacks or acid reflux».
I had my endoscopy done. No sign of acid reflux, GERD, or esophageal erosion caused by acid reflux. Though he did find I had H. Pylori, which many people have but don’t experience symptoms from.
I spoke to my PCP the same day, they’re in the same office. Explained the situation at the ER, and he gave me 10 days worth of the same dosage of Xanax after much negotiating. I had to tell him I need enough to find and schedule an appointment. As a General Practitioner he did not want to prescribe psychoactive drugs either, especially the most addictive/​abused/​dangerous kind.
— — — — — —
Dr. Kraus
I had been on Xanax for about a week. I saw Dr. Kraus and the session was very short. I would say 10 minutes. When it comes to medical issues, especially circumstances that are undiagnosed and can still be physical or psychological, I wasn’t pleased with the treatment. He is kind, quiet, almost reclusive — but he does rush sessions because he usually has a line worse than amusement parks.
Needless to say, he gave me a month’s supply of the same dosage: 1.5mg per day via 6 tablets of .25 Xanax, as well as Celexa (an SSRI anti-​depressant that is prescribed off-​label for anxiety).
Over the next few weeks, my body adapted quickly to the Xanax and my tolerance went up. My life had also taken a 180 for the better. I was unemployed for around 4 years and got the best job I’ve ever had within a week of being on this regimen.
The following 2 months until now, I have run short on Xanax every time. I am also a cigarette smoker which «dramatically reduces the amount of xanax in your bloodstream» if you do a quick search.
To be honest, I kept trying to switch away from Dr. Kraus due to the short sessions. I think my problem is rooted with social anxieties and general poor health/​fitness in the past boiling to a culmination.
I have went to Maimonides Psych ER, they diagnosed me as Substance Abuse.
I have went to Bellevue Psych Outpatient Clinic,
They are robots programmed to say «We don’t prescribe benzos, go to detox».
Both times I received the same assembly line 5 – 10 minute evaluation.
No psychiatric referrals, no suggestion for therapy, they didn’t even look at my meticulous medical records I have kept for this purpose (diagnosis). NO PATIENT CARE.
Nobody except Dr. Kraus has the balls to prescribe me Xanax. He is trying to switch me over to an SSRI, and verbally said if I keep going this route I’m going to end up on Xanax for life. He is concerned, he isn’t a coward or bound by hospital liabilities.
To punctuate these claims. Here are the tests I have taken to rule out a physical condition:
Vitals (In ambulance 190/​100, in hospital normal)
Chest X-​Ray (normal)
EKG x2 (normal)
Thyroid Bloodwork (normal)
CBC Bloodwork (normal)
Endoscopy (abnormal, but no acid reflux or GERD, only H. Pylori which I was treated for)
Stethoscope lung and heart evaluations (normal)
I have taken:
Zithromax (Zpack) for a possible lung infection
Prednisone, Albuterol (for possible Chronic bronchitis)
Amoxicillin, Biaxin, Prevacid (for definite H. Pylori)
The only thing that has provided relief is Xanax.

There is nothing wrong with Dr. Kraus if you go into the experience knowing what you need. He isn’t going to listen to you moan on a couch. He is perfect for people who know what their issue is and just need someone to help build a controlled medical regimen without spending an arm and a leg.
I would never recommend him for any serious mental issues, but for someone who just wants to manage her panic attacks without committing so much time and money, he is a God sent.
All this talk about how he is a swindler — the man costs me $ 40 a session and the prescriptions he writes me are free of cost. He can have my $ 40 — its worth it.

I just finished filing a complaint on Dr. Kraus with my healthcare provider. The man is a crook.
My first (and only) visit was horrible.
When I arrived I sat with 4 other patients in a waiting room. I was nervous that he was going to be one of those doctors where I would have to wait forever, but one by one the 4 others were in and out of his office in 5 minutes (which I thought was totally bizarro). He called me in, didn’t even look at me or introduce himself and immediately asked me for my Insurance card and deductible. I explained that my deductible had already been met, and that I was to pay 20% of the session (which I had spent the previous night confirming and reconfirming with my insurance). He got on the phone with my insurance company for 15 minutes while I sat there twiddling my thumbs and looking at other peoples insurance information that he had strewn across his office floor. He got off the phone and told me my deductible had NOT been met and I would have to pay him $ 150 up front for the session.
I immediately knew this guy was trouble. I told him I didn’t have the cash on me, that he was incorrect and that if he didn’t mind waiting (like I just did) I would re-​call the insurance company right then to work it out. He basically told me he wouldn’t treat me unless I paid him cash upfront because «they are not ganna pay me». He kept my insurance information and I’m sure he will try to bill me for the session. I told him after I confirmed w/​my insurance, that I would reschedule. I immediately called my insurance after, and once again confirmed that my deductible was already met in full.
He wanted to both get the cash from me AND bill my insurance. Total scheme. Didn’t even look me in the eye most of the time. I got the total sleazeball vibe the second I walked into his office.
However, if you don’t mind paying this quack $ 150 so he can write you a prescription and be out of his office in 5 minutes, he will be the perfect doctor for you.

I wish that I could do more than write a review on here bc I am incensed at the behavior of this psychiatrist. I just got off of the phone with my girlfriend who was in tears at the hand of this doctor. He aparently just went off yelling at her for his lack of office-​efficiency. Being in the field myself, I CANNOT even believe this man calls him a mental health professional.

The absolute worst experience I’ve ever had with a doctor. First, I want to say that Dr. Kraus appears to have moved offices twice in the last two years. Not a good sign. His last office, which was the only one I had the misfortune of ever experiencing, was a filthy, dingy basement office with a tiny waiting room furnished by two uncomfortable chairs, a pile of year-​old magazines, and an ugly radiator. No windows. There’d typically be 2 – 3 people in the room (meaning somebody would probably be standing). I believe this was the consequence of Dr. Kraus double-​booking people.
His office was untidy – dirty, even – with towering stacks of patient files cluttering his desk, which was obviously useless for its intended purpose. His bookshelves contained a few books which had been tossed there haphazardly. A vacuum cleaner stood in one corner, but it seemed to have never been used. An ugly lamp with no shade offered a little mood light, and more files and other debris cluttered the worn easy chair that he would carefully ease himself into when conducting his business.
Here’s my impression of a typical session with Dr. Kraus: patient ushered in; patient’s name asked for; patient file searched for at length, maybe not found at all (in which case the patient’s insurance information would be taken down again and a new treatment history based solely on the patient’s memory would be written down); copay, in cash, asked for; doctor listens to patient’s problems; doctor ignores what patient has told him, asks patient questions the patient has already given him the answer to, such as «are you depressed?» or (in the case of a complaint about a drug causing insomnia as a side-​effect) «are you having a hard time sleeping at night?»; doctor gives patient a prescription; patient leaves awkwardly.
The problem with Dr. Kraus, essentially, is that in New York City, health insurance pays psychiatrists only a fraction of what they’d pay a physical doctor – the result being that anyone truly qualified to help people usually doesn’t accept health insurance at all. Therefore, only people with a lot of money or the willingness to shell out $ 150+ per session can get decent psychiatric care.
Dr. Kraus probably couldn’t get away with implementing such a policy. Instead, he keeps an office conveniently near a treasure trove of penniless depressives (the NYU campus). He, as far as I can tell (and this is strictly my opinion and based on my own experience) double-​books patients and keeps session length to an absolute minimum by ignoring patient complaints and distilling their problems down to what can be answered by a couple of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions.
I also should mention that Dr. Kraus seems to see his patients only two days a week, provides an indirect method of contacting him (he has a «scheduling service» that will return your phone calls), and, according to his scheduling service, absolutely will not allow a pharmacist to contact him to refill your prescription.
My advice to you, should you be new to the city and searching for psychiatric care, is to see your primary care physician about the problem and ask them what they think you should do. If it’s something simple, they may be able to write the prescription for you. Also, seek out a talk therapist and try to determine if you really need to be treated with medication at all.
And please, please, please DO NOT go to Dr. Kraus.
If anybody has had a better experience with a psychiatrist who accepts health insurance, however, I’d like to hear about it!