Psychiatrist

Who is a psychiatrist and what is included in the concept of "psychiatry"? A psychiatrist is a doctor who deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses.

Psychiatry studies abnormal phenomena of the human psyche, and a psychiatrist literally means "a healer of the soul". The main criterion for a mental disorder is the appearance of painful phenomena of the soul (in thinking, feelings, will).

A psychiatrist should understand psychology and neurology, but he is not a psychotherapist or neurologist. A neurologist treats dysfunction of the nervous system, a psychologist helps to understand life problems that have psychological roots, without using medications. Psychotherapists can prescribe mild sedatives, but do not provide full-fledged conservative treatment. A psychiatrist treats mental disorders of varying degrees and stages of neglect, using specific complex treatment with special drugs.

If you have any doubts about your mental health, you should consult a psychiatrist who, during a conversation with the patient and his relatives, will be able to form a preliminary diagnosis and, if necessary, prescribe additional tests to confirm the disease.

What tests should you take when visiting a psychiatrist?

What tests should be taken when visiting a psychiatrist and what preparation is required from the patient? A psychiatrist, like any other doctor, pays no less attention to the physiological state of the patient, for this purpose the following are examined:

1. Thyroid condition, namely:
   • presence of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase;
   • presence of antibodies to thyroglobulin;
   • thyroid hormone absorption rate test;
   • thyroglobulin level;
   • free thyroxine level;
   • thyroid stimulating hormone level;
   • free triiodothyronine level.
2. Expanded formula of pituitary hormones:
   • prolactin level;
   • adrenocorticotropic hormone level;
   • follicle-stimulating hormone level;
   • antidiuretic hormone level;
   • somatotropin level;
   • prolactin fractions;
   • luteinizing hormone level;
   • thyroid stimulating hormone level.
3. Adrenal hormone testing:
   • androstenedione level;
   • adrenaline level;
   • cortisol level;
   • aldosterone level;
   • norepinephrine level;
   • dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level;
   • metanephrine level.

In addition, to clarify the diagnosis, there may be a need for additional neurophysiological research - encephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, angiogram of the cerebral vessels, etc.

What diagnostic methods does a psychiatrist use?

What diagnostic methods does a psychiatrist use and what is their essence? Along with material changes in the brain, a psychiatrist is more concerned with studying the patient's mental health. That is why the clinical method is the most effective diagnostic method in diagnosing mental illnesses.

The essence of the clinical method is to determine during the interview and observation of changes in the patient's mental state, which are related to the occurrence, course and symptoms of mental illness. During the conversation, the psychiatrist observes the patient - evaluates facial expressions, intonation, the patient's reaction when trying to establish contact with him. In rare cases, the final diagnosis is made by a group of specialists, and is discussed at a medical council.

1. Interviewing the patient and his relatives. The interview should be conducted separately so that nothing influences the outcome of the interview. First, introductory questions are asked to clarify the patient's age, occupation, and marital status. It is during the interview, based on the patient's complaints, that one can get an idea of the nature of the disease, managing the conversation in a gentle manner so as not to provoke the patient's isolation and complete denial of his condition.
2. Objectives of patient interview:
   • to identify the patient's attitude towards his illness;
   • the patient's opinion regarding the causes of the disease;
   • presence of symptoms and syndromes of mental illness;
   • personality traits of the patient;
   • the nature of the course of the disease, its features;
   • the patient's attitude towards further treatment.
3. The purpose of interviewing the patient's relatives:
   • clarification of the time of development of the disease;
   • determining differences in the course of the disease, according to the patient and relatives;
   • identify symptoms of the disease hidden by the patient;
   • identify the problems that initiated the development of the disease;
   • determine the attitude of relatives towards the patient and his illness, the desire to help and cooperate with doctors.
4. Observation of the patient. Conducted by a doctor to determine the patient's condition, description of facial expressions, gestures, intonation, actions, reactions. Identification of differences between what is said and the true expression of the patient's emotions.
5. The purpose of patient observation:
   • identifying topics and questions to which the patient responds most vividly;
   • the degree of adaptation to the surrounding world, the ability to take care of oneself;
   • the difference between what is said and the patient's behavior;
   • the patient's usual actions, interaction with society.

The accuracy of the diagnosis and the subsequent trusting relationship between the patient, doctor and the patient’s relatives, which is the key to effective treatment, depend on the diagnostic methods used by the psychiatrist.

What does a psychiatrist do?

What does a psychiatrist do and what is within the competence of this doctor? Many people ask themselves this question, especially when the question arises - which doctor should I contact: a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist, a psychologist or a neurologist?

A psychiatrist is a doctor who deals with problems of human mental health, and also has a special medical education and appropriate training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. A psychiatrist has deep knowledge in psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, and social sciences. A certain knowledge base helps in studying mental health problems using a specific person as an example, as well as in determining the relationship between mental health and physical health. This will be the key to a correct diagnosis and the correct choice of treatment for the disease. A psychiatrist deals with specific drug treatment of mental disorders, combined with a special psychotherapeutic approach - psychological support, establishing contact with the patient, explaining the essence of the disease, and treatment plans.

You can get help from a psychiatrist at your local PND, in the psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care office at a multidisciplinary polyclinic, or in a departmental polyclinic. When contacting a psychiatrist, the patient is guaranteed professional help, as well as, if necessary, help from a clinical psychologist or social workers.

What diseases does a psychiatrist treat?

What diseases does a psychiatrist treat and how are they classified? First of all, the task of a psychiatrist is to study the mechanism of occurrence of a mental disorder, conduct diagnostics and prescribe treatment. The doctor's competence includes consulting healthy and sick people, examination of the mental state of patients to determine the degree of mental instability and capacity.

Modern psychiatry has several specific directions:

• Organizational psychiatry.
• Forensic psychiatry.
• Psychopharmacology.
• Social psychiatry.
• Age-related psychiatry.
• Narcology.

It is impossible to list all the diseases that a psychiatrist treats – there are quite a lot of diseases, and the list is constantly growing. The main reasons for contacting a psychiatrist are:

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

In case of any of the above pathologies, only a psychiatrist whose competence is beyond doubt can make a final diagnosis.

Advice from a psychiatrist

The advice of a psychiatrist is aimed at maintaining mental balance, which is best achieved by observing sleep hygiene. With prolonged sleep disturbances, there is a high probability of developing somatic diseases, including mental ones. To relax, avoid overwork and improve the quality of sleep, you need to adhere to the following rules:

1. Avoid watching TV before bed, avoid intense emotional stress, and it is especially important to use the bed only as a place for sleeping and marital duties, otherwise the look of the bed will set you up for anything but sleep.
2. The sleeping room should have an optimal temperature, low noise and light thresholds - the absence of irritants is the key to healthy sleep.
3. 2-3 hours before bedtime, you should avoid eating and drinking - this stimulates the body's nervous system and can manifest itself as insomnia.
4. Avoid short naps during the day. At the very least, naps should last no more than 25 minutes.
5. You should not smoke before bed – nicotine stimulates the central nervous system, and this can also cause restless, unstable sleep or insomnia.
6. Caffeine is also a stimulant, but it is not only found in coffee, tea, drinks, but also in some medications, so caffeine-containing drugs can be taken no less than 6 hours before bedtime.
7. Drinking large amounts of alcohol before bed also provokes frequent semi-delirious awakenings and nightmares. The reason for this is the process of alcohol breakdown and elimination from the body. 8. Avoiding intense physical activity before bed.

A sound healthy sleep is the key to good physical and mental health, vitality and health. In case of long-term sleep disturbance, insomnia, accompanied by a feeling of anxiety, worry, you need to consult a psychiatrist.

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