Adult Psychiatry

Good mental health is vital for living a happy and healthy life. A crucial component of good mental health is adult psychiatry, which aims to improve the patient’s quality of life. Adult psychiatrists leverage expert clinical psychiatric knowledge and experience to assess and treat behavioral and mental health disorders. 

The treatments are customized to the needs of each individual. Some need inpatient treatments while others need outpatient care, but both involve everything from the initial diagnosis to creating the best treatment plan.
 

Adult Psychiatry 

Adult psychiatry focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. Mental health treatment accounts for the role of physical conditions and those associated with substance use. 

People 18 years and older seek psychiatric services for various problems. The issues can be about sudden panic attacks or lingering ones, such as feelings of hopelessness or sadness.
 

Adult Mental Health Care

Studies show that one in every five adults has some form of behavioral health disorder, including mental health problems. Mental disorders can affect a person’s thinking, behavior, or mood. They can influence school, work, or home life and may occur once or intermittently. Some individuals experience symptoms that continue for years. The disorders can be severe but treatable in most cases. Most people recover completely after treatment. 
 

Types of Mental Disorders 

Psychiatrists often work with the patient’s primary care physician. Their goal is to provide integrated care for general well-being. They provide care for various disorders, including:

• Adjustment disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• Clinical depression

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Phobias and panic disorders

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Bipolar disorder/manic depression

• Memory disorders

• Schizophrenia

Diagnosing Mental Disorders

Psychiatrists perform various tests to determine the patient’s mental and physical condition. Psychological tests, lab tests, and patient discussions help create a diagnosis. 

Psychiatrists understand the relationship between mental, emotional, and medical conditions. They consider the patient’s family history and genetics. Expertise in these factors helps them come up with a proper diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan.
 

Treating Mental Disorders 

Treatment for mental disorders depends on the underlying causes and the symptoms. Effective therapies help patients improve their full function and quality of life. Psychiatrists offer different therapeutic approaches, including:

• Medications

• Individual or group psychotherapy

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Complementary and alternative therapies

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Patients who need intensive mental care receive inpatient care. It helps stabilize symptoms, restore function, and improve well-being. The care allows patients to get back to their daily duties. Some patients need long-term care over several months or years. 

Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help treat various mental disorders or emotional problems. The goal of the treatment is to allow the patient to control or cut troubling symptoms. This, in turn, will enable them to function better. Depending on the individual, talk therapy can take a few or many sessions. Cognitive behavior therapy focuses on problem-solving.

Psychiatric medications treat mental disorders. They achieve this by changing chemical signals or communications in the brain. It can help reduce symptoms of the disorders. Psychiatrists check patients often to ensure medication effectiveness and look for signs of potential side effects.