It seems like a good idea to start a discussion about concepts of psychiatry with a discussion about what is psychiatry. Psychiatry is the branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of patterns of emotion, thought, and behavior that causes disruption of the normal functioning and the quality of life of a person and people around him or her. The psychiatrist has the knowledge to diagnose and treat these conditions and improve the quality of life of these persons. This group of conditions is called mental illness, but perhaps a better term would neuropsychiatric conditions.
The vast majority of disorders of emotion, thought and behavior is the result from disruption of normal brain function. The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. To put into perspective just how complex the brain is, picture that in your head you have more connections between your neurons than the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. With so many connections it is understandable;e that sometimes these connections won’t work well.
There are several factors that can affect brain function and cause dysfunction. The first factor is genetic. If you have any close family with a neuropsychiatric condition you have a higher risk of developing a condition if you are exposed to high stress situations. This does not mean you will develop a condition. For example, if you are female and your mother developed breast cancer, you have a higher risk but doesn’t mean you will have the disease.
Another major factor is the stressors to which we are exposed. This runs the gamut from traffic jams you face every day to serious interpersonal situations. Depending on your vulnerabilities at some point your brain might overload and you develop a neuropsychiatric condition. And there are many other factors, such as medical conditions. Each body is a universe. And in that universe when a part is not working well it affect other parts of your body. Thyroid conditions, diabetes and others may manifest as anxiety, depression or other neuropsychiatric conditions.
The job of the psychiatrist then is to obtain a history and if necessary a physical examination the necessary information to reach a description of how brain function is affected. That way you can formulate an improvement plan for that person to return to health.
It's worth making the distinction between a psychiatrist and a psychologist. A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in brain function and the way other medical conditions can affect the brain. It has the ability to integrate the medical and the mental dimensions of human beings to work to improve a person’s health. A psychiatrist can help a person change her thought and behavior patterns (a process called psychotherapy) and/or use medications to restore the brain’s normal function in the same way that a diabetic uses insulin to regulate glucose metabolism in the blood. A psychologist is a person who specializes in studying the phenomena of emotion, thought and personal and social behavior of a person and also has training in the process of psychotherapy.
Several points should be considered when it comes to neuropsychiatric conditions:
- A psychiatric diagnosis is not destiny. It is simply a description that helps clinicians to better understand your situation and to communicate with other clinicians. Neuropsychiatric conditions symptoms vary widely among people with the same diagnosis.
- You're not a passive victim of a neuropsychiatric disorder. Like any other medical conditions, neuropsychiatric disorders may improve or worsen depending on your actions. A healthy lifestyle with exercise, good nutrition, good relationships, and eliminating unnecessary or toxic stress in your life can make a huge difference in the way a neuropsychiatric condition manifests itself.
- There are effective treatments. If your emotions, thoughts and behaviors are disturbed to the point of affecting your quality of life it is time to seek professional help and improve your quality of life.
- Do not give up. Neuropsychiatric conditions can make you or your family feel great despair. Remember that there are various types of help and there are more tools than medicine and psychology to help you be well again.
The content on this blog is not a substitute for a proper medical evaluation. If you have any questions regarding your health consult your physician.
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