Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders and illnesses. Psychiatrists use regularly updated classifications, such as the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), to diagnose patients. They provide treatment in various settings, including outpatient mental health clinics, hospitals with day or 24-hour wards, and Community Mental Health Centers.
A psychiatrist
helps patients on an ad hoc basis, e.g., during mourning and on a long-term basis, with chronic diseases or conditions that require regular visits and monitoring of the patient's health.
Below are the diseases commonly treated by a psychiatrist:
By introducing appropriate pharmacotherapy, a psychiatrist can reduce the symptoms of people struggling with personality disorders, which may facilitate psychotherapy.
The decision to visit a psychiatrist is not easy. However, we often hear such a suggestion from a family doctor or psychologist. You should see a psychiatrist when you notice:
There are several things the patient can do during the appointment to make the procedure more comfortable and ensure that you are obtaining the most out of the occasion.
It is necessary to be honest with the psychiatrist. To provide the best potential care, the patient must be as sincere and open as possible.
This often implies discussing sensitive details of a highly confidential nature. The patient might talk about issues such as sexual history, family relationships, and drug use. While this can be challenging to communicate, it is significant to remember that the psychiatrist may provide proper treatment unless they thoroughly comprehend the circumstances.
Request clarification if the patient requires more details or does not understand something the psychiatrist has communicated. The patient might ask questions at the moment or write them down so they may consult them afterward.
If the patient is feeling nervous about the first appointment, they may want to bring a friend or family member with them. This individual may provide emotional support and help the patient remember what the specialist communicates after the meeting.
It is standard to feel overwhelmed by all the details the patient may be taking in during that first meeting. They can find it useful to take notes throughout the session. This helps to remember what was discussed, but it can also be a wonderful way to glance back at each meeting and think about what to discuss during the following session.
These are indeed overlapping fields, each dealing with mental health. The basic difference concerns the powers and scope of activity. We will emphasize once again – that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor. Therefore, it can make diagnoses, conduct pharmacological treatment, refer for specialist tests, decide on the patient's temporary inability to work, or, in other words, issue sick leaves.
A psychologist, on the other hand, can provide psychological assistance, make psychological diagnoses, conduct counseling and training, perform psychological tests, and issue certificates. However, a psychologist cannot write prescriptions or conduct pharmacological treatment.
A psychotherapist – a person primarily engaged in conducting short- and long-term therapy that aims to change the functioning of the person seeking help – does not have such rights. A psychotherapist does not have to be, but can also be, a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Like a psychologist, they can ask for a psychiatric consultation if he thinks the patient needs it.
It may be difficult for many people to judge who to go to first for help: a psychiatrist, psychologist, or psychotherapist.
It's good to start with a specialist who can be accessed faster. To make an appointment with a psychiatrist, you do not need a referral from your general practitioner or a psychologist – yes, unless you decide to make a private visit. Considering our realities, the waiting time for an appointment with a psychiatrist is long. Therefore, we would suggest that it is worth going to a good psychologist first, who will certainly refer you to a psychiatrist if they find that the patient's condition also requires medical tests.
There are life-threatening situations that require immediate psychiatric consultation. Those include:
Only when such a patient regains balance can the psychiatrist decide to continue working with a psychologist or psychotherapist. In any other situation when we are not sure about our mental condition, and something worries us, it is worth consulting a psychiatrist.
Although using psychiatric help was taboo for many years, recently, it has slowly stopped being shameful. It is worth considering whether someone from our community has recently talked about a good doctor. A specialist recommended by a loved one often automatically inspires greater trust. In addition, doctors are increasingly willing to open accounts on websites associated with medical professionals. Getting to know information about their qualifications or patient reviews can also make the choice easier, although it requires caution. After all, online opinions are not always written honestly and fairly.
It is also a good idea to discuss your expectations of the psychiatrist when booking an appointment. After all, everyone has their own needs and may, for example, feel more comfortable talking about their problems to a woman or an older, experienced specialist. Trust in the doctor and the resulting honest conversation are often the key to solving the problem, so no one should be afraid of reporting such things in a conversation with the registrar.
It would be best if you also considered what you expect from therapy – we encourage you to familiarize yourself with therapeutic approaches and choose the optimal option for yourself.
All doubts will certainly be dispelled during a direct conversation – but the most important thing is to take the first step and decide to consult.
When selecting a psychiatrist, it is advisable to consider whether they adhere to the biopsychosocial model of health in their practice. Unlike the biomedical model, which focuses solely on the biological aspects of mental health and the prescription of medications, the biopsychosocial approach takes into account familial circumstances, emotional issues, and environmental influences. An effective psychiatrist assesses the patient comprehensively and, when necessary, collaborates with other specialists. Mental disorders encompass both bodily and psychological elements, making pharmacotherapy alone inadequate and necessitating psychotherapy.
Mental health disorders are increasingly symbolic of contemporary society, even being regarded as diseases of civilization. These challenges are likely to persist and drive a burgeoning recognition of the importance of ongoing mental health maintenance to avert potential crises. Consequently, the demand for psychiatrists is anticipated to surge, highlighting the significance of this field.
If you are having your first meeting with a psychiatrist, remember that this is slightly different advice than a classic consultation with a doctor of another specialty. It involves primarily a conversation during which the doctor will want to get to know the patient and the problems that made them decide to visit.
Talking about your matters to someone you don't know is often very difficult, so it is worth preparing for such a conversation in advance and considering what issues are the most important. The doctor should be informed about the problems and how they affect daily functioning.
After an evaluation, the doctor may recommend a specific course of treatment, which could include medication and a referral for psychotherapy. It's crucial to work closely with the doctor throughout the treatment process, following their advice and speaking up about any medication-related concerns or side effects. By doing so, the doctor can tailor their recommendations to fit your needs best.
While some conditions may require ongoing psychiatric care, others can be resolved entirely. Successful recovery depends on a collaborative effort between the patient and the doctor. If you're struggling with mental health issues, don't hesitate to seek help from a specialist. There's no need to feel afraid or ashamed.
The psychiatrist can prescribe medications during the first visit. Typically, dosing begins with the lowest doses. Medicines must be taken under the supervision of a doctor because some of them may be addictive.
It should also be remembered that pharmaceuticals do not work immediately. Usually, you have to wait about a month to see the effects, and the doctor decides the duration of therapy. It is significant to follow all recommendations and patiently wait for the effects of treatment. The medications commonly prescribed by psychiatrists include drugs for depression, anti-anxiety drugs, and sedatives or hypnotics.
People who feel chronic sadness, apathy, loss of strength and energy to act – even going to work or getting out of bed – should see a psychiatrist. It is worth considering visiting a specialist when your loved ones encourage you to do so – perhaps the patient does not yet notice the problem.
You should consult a psychiatrist immediately with a family member if at least one of the following symptoms appears:
A psychologist or psychotherapist may refer the patient to a psychiatrist if necessary. Psychologists and therapists cannot refer people to pharmacological treatment or write sick leaves, so they refer people to an appropriate specialist if they deem it necessary. You should not be afraid of visiting this type of specialist.
Table of Contents
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