Psychiatrist - what does he do? This is a person who diagnoses and treats mental illness and disorders. It helps to cope not only with their symptoms, but also reaches the causes. Psychiatry is a field of medicine, and psychiatrists can administer drug treatments and prescribe medications. A visit to a psychiatrist should not be worrying. Read what a visit to this doctor looks like and how he differs from a psychologist and psychotherapist.

Psychiatrist - what does he do?He is a medical doctor with a specialization inpsychiatry . Like any other doctor, he is bound by the Code of Medical Ethics, uses a specific set of diagnostic criteria - in Poland, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and He alth Problems ICD-10 is in force, established by the International He alth Organization (WHO) and in force since 1996.

A psychiatrist is a doctor to whom we are often unnecessarily afraid to go - it is easier for us to heal on the body than on the soul. We are afraid that the doctor will judge what we say negatively, think that we are crazy or, on the contrary, we came to him with a trivial problem. Meanwhile, just as cardiology is to help heart patients, and urology is to help people with problems with the genitourinary system, a psychiatrist recognizes and treats mental disorders, and if we go there early enough - it can prevent the development of the disease. The psychiatrist does not evaluate, but develops the best treatment direction for a specific patient. What's more, it's a psychiatric secret, so it won't reveal our closely guarded secrets to anyone. Visiting a psychiatrist is not to be afraid! Moreover, you do not need a referral to make an appointment with a psychiatrist.

In Poland, the problem with access to specialists is getting worse. Currently, there are 90 psychiatrists per million people. Only Bulgaria is worse in the EU.

When to see a psychiatrist: symptoms

We can go to a psychiatrist directly or after a psychologist or GP advises us to do so. With what problems to visit a psychiatrist?

  • mood changes;
  • changes in our behavior in family and social relationships, e.g. withdrawing from them,isolating yourself from the environment;
  • changes in activity - excessive or too weak compared to the period preceding the changes;
  • sudden changes in life that we cannot cope with: death of a loved one, illness, dismissal;
  • constant feeling of fear, anxiety;
  • constant feeling of sadness, depression, helplessness;
  • constant feeling of loneliness;
  • we notice that we have become more nervous, oversensitive, we feel under attack all the time and want to respond with an attack;
  • when we notice things, we hear voices that others don't notice;
  • when we have headaches, we experience hand tremors, hyperhidrosis, palpitations, and the tests have ruled out a somatic (physical) disease;
  • when we abuse alcohol, drugs, drugs, we are addicted to gambling, shopping or sex.

What diseases does a psychiatrist treat?

Based on the interview with the patient, the psychiatrist will implement the appropriate treatment. The diseases treated by specialists in the field of psychiatry include:

  • depression;
  • mental disorders (when there are delusions, hallucinations, disturbances of consciousness);
  • emotional disorders;
  • personality disorders;
  • bipolar disorder;
  • neuroses;
  • schizophrenia;
  • addiction;
  • anorexia;
  • bulimia;
  • psychosis;
  • post-traumatic stress disorder;
  • occupational diseases;
  • mania;
  • concentration and memory disorders;
  • ACoA syndrome;
  • suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

What does a visit to a psychiatrist look like?

Visiting a psychiatrist is not to be feared. The first is simply an interview that the psychiatrist carries out with the patient. The doctor may ask about the relationship with parents in childhood and adolescence, the course of education, first love. He will also want to know what the physical condition of the patient is like: whether he is suffering from insomnia, how his appetite is, or whether he has had a history of neurological disorders in the past. The psychiatrist will also pay attention to the patient's ability to concentrate, whether he has no memory or attention disorders. He will also want to know if the patient has suicidal thoughts, and above all - how he feels at a given moment in his life, what exactly brought him to the doctor. The conversation takes place in a calm atmosphere, on the basis of which a psychiatrist may order psychological tests, laboratory tests or a neurological consultation.

What does psychiatric treatment look like?

Based on the interview andexaminations, the psychiatrist may prescribe medications appropriate for a given patient. It will tell you how to dose them, what their effect is, how they will affect the treatment of a specific person. Pharmacological treatment requires regular visits to assess the effect of the drug, discuss current events in the patient's life and their impact on the patient's mental state, and, if necessary, reduce or increase the dose of the drug or change it. Drug treatment may last several months (and this is the most common case) or several years. After its completion, the patient may come for control visits to his psychiatrist.

In some cases, a psychiatrist may decide to require treatment in a psychiatric hospital. However, it usually happens in those cases when the patient's mental disorders pose a threat to himself and his environment.

Worth knowing

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist and psychotherapist?

Psychiatrist:

  • is a doctor;
  • can write prescriptions, sick leaves, send them to the hospital;
  • diagnoses and treats mental disorders and diseases.

Psychologist:

  • is a graduate of psychological studies;
  • provides psychological support and makes a psychological diagnosis;
  • rules and opinions;
  • does not issue prescriptions.

Psychotherapist:

  • a person who graduated from psychotherapy school (lasting up to 4 years) - it can be both a psychologist and psychotherapist or any graduate of master's studies;
  • There are many schools of psychotherapy in Poland, but only graduating from some of them en titles you to receive a certificate recognized by the National He alth Fund - it is worth choosing psychotherapists with such a certificate;
  • we can go to a psychotherapist both with sleep disorders, eating disorders or depression, as well as when we want to improve our well-being on a daily basis.

The article uses excerpts from Julia Orłowska-Szuchnicka's text that appeared in the "M jak Mama" monthly.

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