Psychiatrist: what diseases he treats and when you should contact him

A psychiatrist is a doctor who studies the mechanisms of occurrence, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. A psychiatrist can advise mentally healthy and sick people, prescribe medications, and conduct examinations of patients to determine the degree of mental health and capacity.

A psychiatrist understands psychology and neurology, but is not a psychologist, neurologist or psychotherapist. Answering the question of what a psychiatrist treats, we can definitely say: the task of a psychiatrist is to treat mental disorders of varying degrees of severity. A psychiatrist uses medications, sometimes quite strong, while psychologists help solve life’s psychological problems without the use of drugs. Psychotherapists may use mild sedatives (to relieve stress), but they do not treat with medication.

Areas of psychiatry

In modern psychiatry there are several main directions:

• Organizational psychiatry. Resolves issues of organizing care for the mentally ill, studies epidemiology, and develops ways to reduce the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Forensic psychiatry. The section is in charge of mental disorders related to problems of criminal law.
• Psychopharmacology. The direction is devoted to the study of the therapeutic effects of medicinal substances on human behavior and mental activity.
• Social psychiatry. Determines methods of rehabilitation and adaptation of mentally ill people in society.
• Developmental psychiatry. Studies abnormalities in children, adolescents and the elderly (gerontopsychiatry).
• Narcology. Provides assistance to people suffering from various pathological addictions.

What diseases and conditions does a psychiatrist treat?

A psychiatrist is competent to cover a wide range of mental disorders, dysfunctions of the nervous system, which manifest themselves in the form of mental disorders and other pathological conditions:

1. Depression of any etiology, including postpartum or resulting from abuse of alcohol, drugs, psychotropic drugs. This is what a psychiatrist-narcologist specializes in.
2. Suicidal tendencies, including in adolescents and older people.
3. Bipolar disorders - alternating periods of hyperactivity and apathy.
4. All types of addictions - from smoking to emotional addiction (“unrequited love”).
5. All types of age-related mental disorders that occur in older people.
6. Schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
7. CNS disorders – insomnia or hypersomnia, irritability, aggression, chronic stress and fatigue.
8. All types of phobias and fears, obsessive states, paranoia, panic states.
9. Urinary incontinence (enuresis), if it occurs in a patient over 7 years of age.
10. Congenital or acquired epilepsy and seizure-like conditions that accompany it - convulsions, dizziness, visual and auditory hallucinations, fainting.
11. Any changes in personality and behavior resulting from accidents, injuries, surgical interventions, diseases. Severe consequences of traumatic brain injuries.

Reactive states after difficult life circumstances, psycho-emotional shocks - after the death of a loved one, loss of property, dismissal from work, etc.

Any sexual disorders, deviations, including exhibitionism, preferences that are considered “perverted” by the patient himself.

Any deviations from normal behavior in adults, adolescents, children - aggressiveness, a tendency to conflict, assault, defiant behavior.

Important! The psychiatrist also registers patients at a psychoneurological dispensary and issues health certificates for the patient to obtain a driver’s license or permission to purchase a weapon. Therefore, motorists and hunters often sign up for consultations with him. Some psychiatrists engage in forensic examination of mental disorders.

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What diseases does a psychiatrist treat?

It is impossible to list all the diseases and conditions - everything that a psychiatrist treats - since the list is very wide and is constantly growing. The most common reasons for contacting are:

• suicide attempts;
• paranoid ideas, delusions and hallucinations;
• various phobias;
• persistent insomnia;
• severe groundless anxiety, psychosis and other cases of mental disorders;
• epilepsy;
• schizophrenic conditions;
• mental disorders caused by post-traumatic conditions;
• alcoholism, insurmountable addictions of various types;
• delirium tremens;
• frequent hysterical attacks;
• senile dementia (Alzheimer's disease);
• bulimia and anorexia.

When and why should you contact a psychiatrist?

Contacting a psychiatrist is required if you suspect painful changes in the psyche, to confirm or exclude a mental disorder. In such cases, the psychiatrist examines the applicant, studies his condition, evaluates his life history (collects anamnesis); if necessary, prescribe additional examinations or immediately prescribe treatment.

Contacting a psychiatrist does not always lead to a diagnosis and initiation of treatment. A significant number of those who applied for consultation do not find signs of mental disorders; their doubts and suspicions are explained to them, and general recommendations are given (rest, follow a regime, etc.).

Recently, a relatively new category of psychiatrist’s visitors has appeared: these are healthy people who have no visible mental problems. Their goal is to determine the risks of developing mental disorders in themselves in the future, to get an answer to the question: are they at risk for developing a particular psychiatric illness.

And the third group of people who turn to a psychiatrist are people who need a psychiatrist’s opinion to get a job, get a driver’s license, a permit to carry a weapon, etc.

How does a psychiatrist treat

Currently, various treatment methods are used in psychiatry. The basis is the use of medications that help restore lost functions (for example, memory), sedatives. In addition to medications, doctors use corrective psychotherapy techniques:

• auto-trainings;
• group classes that have a beneficial effect on the state of mind (art therapy - modeling, drawing);
• hypnosis, suggestion, conversations, etc.

Methods such as treatment with cold, water, electric shock and others are not used in modern psychiatry and are strictly prohibited.

How does an appointment with a psychiatrist go, and what diagnostic and treatment methods does he use?

Important! An appointment with a psychiatrist can happen in different ways. It all depends on the age and health status of the patient, whether he came for a consultation voluntarily or compulsorily, for what purpose the examination will be carried out, and whether there are relatives or guardians near the patient.

A standard voluntary examination (examination) by a psychiatrist consists of two stages.

At the first stage, the doctor conducts a detailed conversation with the patient, finding out all the complaints, characteristics of the person’s personality and life. A psychiatrist may be interested in data about family, work, illnesses, mental and physical injuries, psycho-emotional shocks. A conversation with a psychiatrist can last 60 minutes or longer.

After the conversation, the doctor will conduct a full physical examination of the patient and may prescribe psychiatric or physical tests. Or send the patient to undergo laboratory, hardware, and instrumental studies. Depending on the clinical picture, blood and urine tests, MRI, CT, ECG, encephalography and other diagnostic methods may be prescribed.

After this, the doctor can make a preliminary or final diagnosis and prescribe treatment. The treatment methods used by a psychiatrist are varied. Depending on the situation, the doctor resorts to drug treatment, psychotherapeutic methods, and physical therapy. He may perform procedures on an outpatient basis or prescribe elective/urgent admission to a private/public psychiatric clinic or hospital.

How does an initial appointment with a psychiatrist go?

At the first appointment, the doctor:

• interviews the patient or his relatives (if the patient himself is not able to give truthful answers);
• based on testing results, establishes a primary diagnosis;
• determines the conditions of treatment - outpatient or inpatient;
• outlines a treatment strategy.

Patients should not be afraid of visiting a psychiatrist. Currently, examination and treatment are carried out anonymously, without registration. Patients are interviewed only with their written consent, and in cases of established insanity or incapacity, with the consent of their guardians. Only socially dangerous patients are subject to compulsory placement in a hospital, the decision to place them in a hospital is made after passing an examination.

This article is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.

Why should you consult a psychiatrist?

Unfortunately, often a psychiatrist is not the specialist to whom patients go voluntarily. Some patients do not recognize themselves as such, some do not even suspect that what is happening to them is a disease, a deviation. But in most cases, the reluctance to visit a psychiatrist is due to the opinion that many people have about this specialist. They believe that a psychiatrist is a doctor who treats “crazy people” and criminals, and that their own problems are not so serious that they need to be dealt with by a shrink.

In fact, this attitude is fundamentally wrong. After all, most disorders, if detected on time, at an early stage, can be eliminated relatively easily and quickly. But if you ignore your condition (or the condition of your loved ones), the situation may worsen so much that the person will no longer be able to cope with it. Mental disorders often lead to severe somatic illnesses, injuries, and disability. In addition, “simple” depression in one patient may go away on its own, while another is trying to get away from problems by attempting suicide. This problem is especially relevant for emotionally unstable teenagers and elderly people who feel useless, sick and helpless. Therefore, there is no need to risk your health and the health and lives of your loved ones. It is better to contact a specialist who will help alleviate the condition and eliminate the disease.

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How does mental pathology manifest itself?

Mental illness is a condition in which a person ceases to adequately perceive the reality around him. Most often it manifests itself by changes in human behavior. It is believed that only people with a sick psyche need the help of a good psychiatrist and go to a medical center, while an adult can deal with his mental problems and internal experiences on his own. Because of this opinion, mental illness progresses and sometimes provokes the development of somatic pathologies. Many patients suffer from depression. Currently, there is a change in the clinical picture of this disease: it takes the form of many somatic diseases, which significantly complicates its diagnosis.

Sometimes, before seeing a psychotherapist, such patients undergo courses of treatment or even undergo surgical interventions:

In what cases can a psychiatrist help?

A psychiatrist uses medications and other techniques in treatment. Therefore, in many cases, it is this specialist who can completely solve the problem that has arisen.

Reason to visit a psychiatrist :

— A growing feeling of anxiety that does not go away over time;

— Increasing desire to drink alcohol, drugs, cigarettes;

— Failure in the daily routine: chronic fatigue and the desire to sleep, despite insomnia;

— Poor concentration, loss of attention and frequent memory lapses;

— Uncontrollable state, attacks of aggression and panic.

These are the symptoms that clearly characterize the presence of problems in the functioning of the nervous system and brain. Unfortunately, many years of practice show that it is very difficult to get rid of such manifestations on your own.

What diseases does a psychiatrist treat?

Most often, patients with serious mental disorders that prevent them from living fully and adapting to society turn to a psychiatrist. This:

1. schizophrenia;
2. bipolar disorder;
3. dementia;
4. organic and symptomatic psychoses;
5. personality disorders;
6. severe forms of depression;
7. epilepsy;
8. various phobias;
9. anxiety disorders;
10. sleep disorders;
11. various addictions (narcotic, drug, alcohol, etc.).

Patients with disorders caused by traumatic brain injuries, physiological pathologies, poisoning, and infectious diseases also need psychiatric care. In addition, a psychiatrist can advise healthy people who are aware of a hereditary predisposition to mental illness. Prevention helps to identify risks and prerequisites for the development of pathologies.

Reason to contact us

Living conditions in a metropolis have a negative impact on any person. By and large, our body is not adapted to the modern rhythm. The amount of information received has increased several times over the past decades, and it is not surprising that at some point our higher nervous system begins to refuse to work correctly. Medicine has found ways to correct the negative impact of the environment and completely restore mental health.

At first glance, harmless symptoms such as poor sleep, indigestion, causeless irritability and aggression, constant mood swings, chronic fatigue in most cases are signs of the onset of a “mental” illness. If you do not pay attention to this in time, the consequences can be very sad. But in the early stages, such problems can be solved quite easily and without further relapses.

In what cases is the help of a psychiatrist needed?

Please pay attention to the following features if you:

• Depressive state.
• Chronic sleep problems.
• Manifestation of sleepiness during the day.
• Feeling of chronic fatigue.
• Bulimia, anorexia, indigestion syndrome.
• Sharp unmotivated mood swings from one extreme to another.
• Addiction to alcoholic beverages (it is difficult to give such an assessment on your own; it is better to rely on the opinions of loved ones).
• Panic attacks.
• There were problems with communication. Rejection or painful fear of loneliness.
• Harmless addictions (shopping, the Internet, computer games, etc.) suddenly become decisive.
• Tragic events have occurred (the death of a loved one, an accident with serious injuries, or other incidents with a strong emotional impact).

Even one symptom is enough to give you pause. If you have several being observed, this is a serious reason to make an appointment with a psychiatrist in Moscow.

Visit to a psychiatrist

They always communicate with the patient with the utmost correctness; it is necessary to ask some personal questions. Afterwards, specialists can conduct oral and written tests, based on the results of which they will learn more deeply about the problems. It is worth knowing that during the dialogue you must communicate honestly and trustingly with medical professionals. The accuracy of the diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment depend on this. In emergency cases, hospitalization is possible with the consent of close relatives or guardians of the incapacitated citizen.

Specialization

We provide medical services in the following cases:

• A depressive state in which the desire to lead an active and social lifestyle disappears for several months.
• Neurosis. It is characterized by an inadequate reaction to external stimuli and an inability to concentrate. The patient usually adequately assesses all the symptoms and is perfectly aware of everything that is happening to him. During illness, there may be a decrease in physical and mental performance.
• Panic attack. This is an inexplicable and causeless attack of severe anxiety, accompanied by all the physiological manifestations of real fear (increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating and chills, lack of air).
• Bipolar disorder. This is a frequent change in mood from a state of euphoria to melancholy.
• Insomnia and other sleep disorders (early getting up, periodic awakenings in the middle of the night, lack of sleep in the morning, etc.). You should pay attention here if you cannot fall asleep for quite a long time. One or two nights without sleep is not a cause for concern.
• Schizophrenia of any complexity.
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
• Alcoholism and smoking.
• Constant headaches.
• Manic-depressive psychosis.
• Personality disorders.
• Various phobias and fears.

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