Psychiatrist
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses such as behavioral disorders, emotional disorders and other biological, social and psychological aspects of people that may interfere with their normal emotional functioning.
Psychiatrist are trained in general medicine first and this allows them to have extensive knowledge about the human body. They are then specialized for an additional 4-6 years where they delve deeper into the brain, it’s functions and the effects of medication and other chemical interactions in the body. They prescribe pharmacological treatment, order laboratory tests and additional studies, as needed.
- Psychiatric evaluations for children, adolescents and adults.
- Psychopharmacological treatment for children, adolescents and adults.
- Psychiatric and psychotherapeutic support to patients with physical and/or medical conditions.
- Individual psychotherapy.
- Mood disorders. (Ex: depression, bipolar disorder)
- Anxiety-related disorders (Ex: Generalized Anxiety, phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, among others)
- Psychotic disorders (Ex: Schizophrenia)
- Developmental disorders (Ex.: Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) déficit de atención).
- Disorders of childhood and adolescence: (Ex.:, oppositional/defiant behaviors, enuresis, encopresis)
- Personality disorders
- Eating disorders: (Ex.: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa)
- Sleep disorders
- Substance abuse and dependence (addiction)
- Impulse control disorders (aggressiveness)
Duration of treatment varies according to the services requested; whether it is an initial consultation, psychotherapy session or medication management. The number of sessions will also depend on an individual’s needs. Initial evaluations are usually 1-2 hours while medication management follow ups last 15-30minutes.
María Luisa Hincapié
