Getting psychiatric treatment is not a difficult task; however, the stigma associated with a mental disorder is what makes a lot of people shy away from getting mental evaluation and treatment. We believe one reason there are a lot of stigmas associated with mental illnesses is that people do not fully understand what psychiatry is all about. Note that Psychiatric Treatment in Corpus Christi operates with the same psychiatric methods used everywhere else. Therefore, this article has the sole purpose of trying to curb the stigma about mental illnesses by discussing what psychiatric treatment entails.
Table of Contents
How does a Psychiatrist Diagnose a Patient?
A psychiatrist usually carries out psychological, medical laboratory tests and discussions with the patient so they can diagnose and understand the patient’s mental and physical state. Their training and education enable them to be able to identify the relationship between medical and emotional illnesses and also how family and genetics history relates to mental health. This understanding helps them evaluate the patient’s psychological and medical data so that they can diagnose and formulate treatment plans.
Also, the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) contains symptoms, descriptions, and certain other criteria that can be used to diagnose mental disorders. Therefore, some diagnoses made by psychiatrists are also based on the criteria stated in this manual.
Who Needs To Visit a Psychiatrist
Anybody that has exhibits symptoms of mental illness, behavioral disorder, and substance abuse or use has to visit a psychiatrist. Mental healthcare covers a very wide variety of illnesses; therefore, that a person is mentally ill does not mean the person is out of their minds. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mental_disorders for a comprehensive list of mental disorders. The person may simply be depressed or have some sort of anxiety disorder that has to be treated so they can have total control of their lives.
What Type of Treatment is used?
The treatment used in psychiatry is quite broad and is based on the patient’s need. Some of these treatments are:
- Medications
- Psychotherapy
- Psychosocial interventions
- Electroconvulsive therapy
Medications
Medications are prescribed only after the psychiatrist has completed extensive evaluation and has successfully diagnosed the patient. These medications will help in treating the mental disorder. The exact way psychiatric medication works has not been fully understood, however, they are known to modulate the brain’s communication and chemical signaling. If a patient is placed on medical treatment for a long time, they would have to visit their psychiatrist from time to time, so that the psychiatrist can evaluate if the medication is effective or not.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is one of the most common forms of treatment used by psychiatrists. It is otherwise known as “talk therapy” and as this name implies, it involves the therapist forming a talking relationship with the patient. Psychotherapy aims at tackling the patient’s troubling or disabling symptoms to help them function better. Psychotherapy may or may not be used alongside medication; again, this is solely based on the needs of the patient.
Psychotherapy has so many forms that are specific for various purposes. You may read this article to find out more about the various forms of psychotherapy. For instance, some psychotherapy is aimed at helping a patient understand and change their thought patterns and behavior. Some are aimed at getting the patient to explore past experiences and relationships and how they now affect their present behavior. A type of therapy known as cognitive behavior therapy focuses on problem-solving.
Some of the benefits of psychotherapy include:
- It helps the patient to understand their behaviors, ideas, and emotions that contribute to the illness. By understanding these, they can modify them so they can function better.
- It helps the patient to begin to regain control and some of life’s pleasures.
- The patient will learn some coping techniques to help them better navigate their illness.
Conclusion
Seeing a mental health caregiver is nothing anyone should be ashamed or embarrassed by. Understanding that the mind can get sick the same way the body can is the first step to getting rid of the effect of the stigma attached to mental and behavioral disorders. The second step is to understand psychiatry in its entirety.
