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How to Prepare Your First Visit
When coming to your first appointment, the most important thing is to try and be relaxed. This is an opportunity for you to meet your doctor for the first time, so some anxieties are completely normal. Psychiatrist is like any other medical doctor but specialized in the field of mental health. This appointment is an opportunity for you to discuss your concerns or symptoms. This session would help you gain insight in to your condition and treatment.
The first appointment should last for about an hour to an hour and thirty minutes. You will be supported through this visit by our staff. You will be asked to complete paper work mainly registration form and a consent form as per our policy. If you would prefer to speak to Psychiatrist before you feel comfortable to sign the consent form please inform the client coordinator.
You will be requested to complete screening questionnaire which should not take more than 5 minutes , please feel free to discuss with client coordinator if you prefer to have further discussion with the Psychiatrist to complete the questionnaires.
Further, a nurse will escort you to nurses room where you will have your blood pressure and pulse rate and other parameters measured. It may sound bit clinical , however it always good to have an insight in to these values. Also it is a requirement to have base lines measurements as you may be prescribed medications as part of one of the outcomes of this consultation.
You will have an opportunity to relax in the waiting area very briefly before the doctor starts the consultation.
What to bring to your first appointment?
- We request that if the concerns are about your child or a teenager, then the parents come to the initial appointment so that we can get as much background information as possible, without adding any stress to the young person.
- If you are the adult or elderly person being treated, then feel free to bring your spouse, partner or friend with you, if you think this would be helpful to better understanding your concerns.
- Please bring any previous assessments, evaluations, medical reports, lab reports, medication scripts and so on, so that you can review these with your doctor and we have as much available information as possible.
- Be prepared that you may be asked quite a few relevant questions about your concerns so that we can formulate your case. It is very helpful to have an interactive conversation and discuss your concerns with the doctor.
FAQs :
1. What is Psychiatry and A Psychiatrist?
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional , psychological and behavioral disorders.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists are qualified to assess both the mental health and physical aspects of psychological problems.
2. Why would somebody see a Psychiatrist?
People seek psychiatric help for many reasons. The problems can be sudden, such as a panic attack, frightening anxiety , stress reaction, stress and burnout, social anxiety, phobias , or hearing “voices’’, adjustment issues , psychological issues secondary to job loss, relationship problems, stress induced brief psychosis, menstrual cycle related mood problems , pregnancy and child delivery related conditions like post natal depression, anxiety, Or they may be more long-term, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiousness, constant feelings of emotional instability , anger and impulsivity, mood fluctuations as part of conditions like Bipolar affective disorder, abnormal thoughts, perceptions, behaviors arising from conditions like schizophrenia that never seem to lift or problems functioning, causing everyday life to feel out of control.
3. How do psychiatrists diagnose patients?
Because they are physicians, psychiatrists can order or perform a full range of medical laboratory and screening tests which, combined with discussions with patients, help provide a picture of a patient’s physical and mental state. Their education and clinical training equip them to understand the complex relationship between emotional and other medical illnesses and the relationships with genetics and family history, to evaluate medical and psychological data, to make a diagnosis, and to work with patients to develop treatment plans.
4.What Treatments Do Psychiatrists Use?
Psychiatrists use a variety of treatments including medications, brief psychological interventions and other treatments depending on the needs of each patient.
Most medications are used by psychiatrists in much the same way that medications are used to treat high blood pressure or diabetes. After completing thorough evaluations, psychiatrists can prescribe medications to help treat psychological disorders. Psychiatric medications can help correct imbalances in brain chemistry that are thought to be involved in some mental health conditions. Patients on long-term medication treatment will need to meet with their psychiatrist periodically to monitor the effectiveness of the medication and any potential side effects.
Can I know more about different classes of medications related to Psychiatry?
Class of Medications
- Antidepressants – used to treat depression, panic disorder, PTSD, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder and eating disorders.
- Antipsychotic medications – used to treat psychotic symptoms (delusions and hallucinations), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychotic symptoms related to stress, epilepsy and other neurological conditions.
- Sedatives and anxiolytics – used to treat short term anxiety and insomnia.
- Hypnotics – used to induce and maintain sleep.
- Mood stabilizers – used to treat variety of conditions leading to mood instability like bipolar disorder, mood instability leading from personality issues.
- Stimulants and non stimulant medications – used to treat ADHD.
Psychiatrists often prescribe medications in combination with psychotherapy.
What are the various other treatments available for Psychological conditions ?
Other treatments are also sometimes used. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a medical treatment that involves applying electrical currents to the brain, is used most often to treat severe depression that has not responded to other treatments. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are a few of the newer therapies being used to treat some mental disorders. Light therapy is used to treat seasonal depression.
When do I need Inpatient Psychiatry:
Some times clients present with acute symptoms and thoughts of self harm. They are not able to handle stress any more and feels unsafe to stay on their own. Psychiatrist s aim to assess the clients in such conditions and guide them appropriately to an Inpatient mental health team.
What Is the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and Psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (completed medical school and residency/training) with special training in psychiatry. A psychiatrist is able to use counseling strategies and prescribe medications and other medical treatments.
A psychologist usually has an advanced degree, most commonly in clinical psychology, and often has extensive training in research or clinical practice. Psychologists treat mental health disorders with psychotherapy and some specialize in psychological testing and evaluation.
Can I know more about how to identify Signs of Mental Illness?
One half of all mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% begins by age 24.
Major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder rarely appear “out of the blue.” Most often family, friends, teachers or individuals themselves begin to recognize small changes or a feeling that “something is not quite right” about their thinking, feelings or behavior before one of these illnesses appears in its full-blown form.
Learning about developing symptoms, or early warning signs, and taking action can help. Early intervention can help reduce the severity of an illness. It may even be possible to delay or prevent a major mental illness altogether.
Signs & Symptoms :
If several of the following are occurring, it may useful to follow up with a mental health professional.
- Withdrawal — Recent social withdrawal and loss of interest in others
- Drop in functioning — An unusual drop in functioning, at school, work or social activities, such as quitting sports, failing in school or difficulty performing familiar tasks
- Problems thinking — Problems with concentration, memory or logical thought and speech that are hard to explain
- Increased sensitivity — Heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch; avoidance of over-stimulating situations
- Apathy — Loss of initiative or desire to participate in any activity
- Feeling disconnected — A vague feeling of being disconnected from oneself or one’s surroundings; a sense of unreality
- Illogical thinking — Unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand meanings or influence events; illogical or “magical” thinking typical of childhood in an adult
- Nervousness — Fear or suspiciousness of others or a strong nervous feeling
- Unusual behavior – Odd, uncharacteristic, peculiar behavior
- Sleep or appetite changes — Dramatic sleep and appetite changes or decline in personal care
- Mood changes — Rapid or dramatic shifts in feelings
One or two of these symptoms alone can’t predict a mental illness. But if a person is experiencing several at one time and the symptoms are causing serious problems in the ability to study, work or relate to others, he/she should be seen by a mental health professional. People with suicidal thoughts or intent, or thoughts of harming others, need immediate attention.