Psychiatrists of Top Doctors UK

What does a psychiatrist treat?

There are over 200 classified types of mental health disorders. Below are a list of the most common conditions a psychiatrist treats:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Drug addiction
• Attention deficit disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders

 

What treatment methods are used by psychiatrists?

There are a variety of different treatments used but it depends on the condition the patient has. These can include:

• Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
• Psychosocial interventions
• Medication e.g. antidepressants or antipsychotics
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Psychotherapeutic treatment e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Psycho-educational interventions

 

What subspecialties are included under psychiatry?

There are three sub-specialties of general psychiatry:

• Substance Misuse Psychiatry – specialises in psychiatry related to patients who use or are addicted to drugs.
• Liaison Psychiatry – this specialises in psychiatry within a general medical setting, such as a hospital. The role of the psychiatrist here is to provide psychiatric care to medical patients.
• Rehabilitation Psychiatry – this specialises in the restoration of an individual diagnosed with a mental health disorder to the community.

 

When should you see a psychiatrist?

When a mental health disorder, such as anxiety or depression, becomes so bad that it impacts your daily life, it’s probably time to see a psychiatrist to get a proper diagnosis. In addition, if you or your support network believe your condition poses a risk to you or others around you, you must see a specialist and have an evaluation. Your GP will normally refer you to a psychiatrist in these cases. After proper diagnosis, you might begin treatment with the psychiatrist or your GP can manage it for you.