What does a psychiatrist treat?

There are over 200 classified types of mental health disorders. Below are a list of the most common conditions a psychiatrist treats:

What treatment methods are used by psychiatrists?

There are a variety of different treatments used but it depends on the condition the patient has. These can include:

Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
Psychosocial interventions
Medication e.g. antidepressants or antipsychotics
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Psychotherapeutic treatment e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Psycho-educational interventions

What subspecialties are included under psychiatry?

There are three sub-specialties of general psychiatry:

Substance Misuse Psychiatry – specialises in psychiatry related to patients who use or are addicted to drugs.
Liaison Psychiatry – this specialises in psychiatry within a general medical setting, such as a hospital. The role of the psychiatrist here is to provide psychiatric care to medical patients.
Rehabilitation Psychiatry – this specialises in the restoration of an individual diagnosed with a mental health disorder to the community.

When should you see a psychiatrist?

When a mental health disorder, such as anxiety or depression, becomes so bad that it impacts your daily life, it’s probably time to see a psychiatrist to get a proper diagnosis. In addition, if you or your support network believe your condition poses a risk to you or others around you, you must see a specialist and have an evaluation. Your GP will normally refer you to a psychiatrist in these cases. After proper diagnosis, you might begin treatment with the psychiatrist or your GP can manage it for you.

Artículos médicos del Dr. Carlos Parra Torres

Suicidios en pacientes recuperados de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos