Psychiatry
Clarify your doubts about psychiatry and the most common mental disorders. Learn about the areas psychiatrists specialize in, the types of disorders they treat, and when it is advisable to seek psychiatric care. Schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist at one of our hospitals.
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What is psychiatry?
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study, prevention, and diagnosis of mental disorders. Unlike psychology, psychiatry addresses complex pathologies that do not respond to therapies based solely on behavioral or lifestyle changes. Psychiatrists complement therapeutic approaches with appropriate pharmacological treatment tailored to each individual case.
The collaborative work between psychology and psychiatry contributes to providing personalized treatment strategies to best support patients with mental illnesses.
What does psychiatry study?
Psychiatry encompasses a broad range of mental illnesses, which often do not occur in isolation. At Quirónsalud, our psychiatrists are subspecialized in different areas to address diverse mental health needs. They operate within collaborative, multidisciplinary teams with a patient-centered approach:
- General psychiatry: Focused on affective and personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating behavior disorders.
- Neuropsychiatry: Deals with psychiatric symptoms caused by neurological or neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Addiction psychiatry: Specializes in the treatment of patients with behavioral, emotional, or substance dependence.
- Forensic psychiatry: Concentrates on mental disorders that may pose a threat to society. It assesses the mental capacity of individuals involved in legal proceedings and provides expert opinions for the legal system.
- Child and adolescent psychiatry: Focuses on mental disorders emerging during childhood and adolescence.
- Geriatric psychiatry: Specializes in psychiatric disorders in the elderly, which are often overlooked as part of normal aging.
Who is psychiatry for?
As previously stated, psychiatry addresses patients with mental health conditions that do not adequately respond to behavioral or lifestyle-based interventions and require pharmacological treatment in addition.
Techniques, procedures, and diagnostic methods
Currently, there are no laboratory or imaging tests that can definitively diagnose psychiatric disorders. Instead, psychiatrists rely on a comprehensive review of the patient’s medical history, emotional state, and symptom presentation, along with evaluating how the environment influences their behavior. Common therapeutic approaches include:
- Psychotherapy: Involves structured conversations between patient and psychiatrist to develop coping strategies for everyday challenges.
- Psychoanalysis: One of the oldest psychotherapeutic techniques, involving free association to uncover behavioral patterns from past and present experiences. Understanding the past enables the patient to approach future situations differently.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy: Based on the premise that trauma results from improperly processed memories. By revisiting these memories, new associations are formed, allowing the trauma to be stored appropriately.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): A type of psychotherapy that examines thought processes and their relationship to behavior and environmental factors.
- Gestalt therapy: Especially effective in addressing anxiety, distress, or self-esteem issues. This approach views the person as an integrated whole (mind, body, and soul) and encourages self-awareness and internal balance.
- Psychopharmacological treatment: When therapy alone is insufficient, medication such as tranquilizers, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, or antidepressants may be prescribed.
Diseases and symptoms
Major psychiatric disorders
The most commonly encountered mental illnesses in psychiatric practice include:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Agoraphobia
- Bipolar disorder
- Diogenes syndrome
- Gambling disorder
- Alcohol use disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Claustrophobia
- Hypomania
- Anxiety disorders
Related symptoms
Psychiatric disorders often present with a wide range of symptoms, including:
About the psychiatric consultation
We solve any doubts you may have before you see the specialist
Certain clear signs may indicate the need for a psychiatric evaluation, such as sudden behavioral changes, mood alterations, unusual thoughts, or significant lifestyle modifications. Taking the step to seek help can be difficult, and in most cases, support from loved ones is crucial.
What to expect
During the initial consultation, the psychiatrist collects the patient’s medical history and inquires about the reasons for the visit. The session typically involves a detailed conversation to identify the patient's needs and determine an appropriate treatment plan. This first appointment is usually longer than standard sessions, as it requires an in-depth exploration of various aspects to establish a diagnosis.
While many patients feel anxious about meeting a psychiatrist, it is important to remember that mental health professionals are empathetic and open-minded, as they are trained to handle a wide range of psychiatric conditions.
What to bring to the appointment
Besides trust in the clinician, it is helpful to bring a list of prominent symptoms and any concerns the patient wishes to discuss during the consultation.
If you have any further questions, please contact us through the Patient Services telephone number: 900 301 013
