What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine focused on understanding and treating disorders that affect the relationship between neurological and mental functions. Psychiatrists focus on disorders with both physical and psychological symptoms, encompassing a broad range of conditions with a neurological basis – from dementia and epilepsy to depression and anxiety. A psychiatrist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats neurological disorders that impact behavior and cognitive functions. This includes assessing and treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, and many others. Psychiatrists also address the impacts of neurological diseases on mental health and vice versa, studying how conditions like depression and anxiety can affect neurological functions.
Treatments in psychiatry often involve a multidisciplinary approach, combining pharmacological (medication), therapeutic (talk therapy), and rehabilitative strategies (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy) to help patients achieve the best possible quality of life despite their conditions. Psychiatrists often collaborate with other specialists including neurologists, psychologists, and therapists to provide comprehensive care to their patients.
Conditions Treated by Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists study, diagnose, and treat disorders affecting a combination of neurological health (brain and nervous system) and mental health. The spectrum of conditions treated by psychiatrists is broad and includes:
Neurodegenerative Diseases
These diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and other conditions causing gradual deterioration and loss of nerve cells in the brain.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Injuries to the head that result in various cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.
Epilepsy
A disorder characterized by recurring seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Mental Disorders Associated with Neurological Conditions
Includes depression, anxiety, and psychoses accompanying neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Cerebrovascular Diseases
Conditions affecting blood flow to the brain, such as stroke and transient ischemic attack.
Dementia
A group of conditions causing impairment in cognitive functions to the extent that they interfere with daily life. Besides Alzheimer’s disease, this includes vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia.
Sleep Disorders
Includes narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome, which can significantly impact mental health.
Genetic Disorders
Conditions involving specific genetic conditions affecting neurological and mental health, like fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis.
Developmental Disorders
These disorders include autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which have a strong neurological component.
Symptoms for Consulting a Psychiatrist
The need to consult a psychiatrist for help can arise from various symptoms and conditions affecting cognitive functions, emotions, behavior, and the ability to function daily. Psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and research disorders affecting the brain and impacting mental health:
– Mood changes: extreme or prolonged mood changes such as depression, bipolar disorder, or unpredictable mood swings.
– Anxiety: intense or prolonged feelings of anxiety, panic, or fear affecting daily life.
– Thinking disorders: difficulties in organizing thoughts, confusion, hallucinations, or delusions.
– Memory disorders: forgetfulness or problems with short-term or long-term memory not associated with normal aging.
– Sleep problems: insomnia, oversleeping, or other changes in sleep habits negatively impacting life.
– Concentration and attention difficulties: ADHD or other difficulties in maintaining focus and attention.
– Behavioral disorders: aggressive behavior, changes in social behavior, or difficulties in adjusting.
– Addiction and substance disorders: issues with alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
– Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, or other severe eating disorders.
– Somatic symptoms: physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition and are believed to be related to mental health.
– Suicidal thoughts or behavior: thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.
– Difficulties in daily functioning: problems at work, school, or interpersonal relationships arising from the above symptoms.
Difference Between Psychiatrist and Neurologist
A psychiatrist and a neurologist are specialists who diagnose and treat disorders related to the nervous system, but their approaches and areas of expertise differ. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specialized in the links between behavior, emotions, and brain functions. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental illnesses directly related to neurological disorders, including conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as behavioral and cognitive disorders caused by brain injuries, dementia, strokes, and other neurological conditions. A neurologist is a doctor specialized in neurology, the branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. Neurologists diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, migraines, and stroke. They focus on the physical aspects of neurological disorders, using tests like electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose their patients and apply medical treatments or surgical interventions when necessary.
Difference Between Psychiatrist and Psychologist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors specialized in diagnosing and treating mental disorders related to the nervous system. They have medical training, can prescribe medication, and treat mental disorders. Psychologists, on the other hand, do not have medical training. They are mental health professionals with a degree in psychology, trained to diagnose and treat mental disorders through talk therapy and other psychological methods but cannot prescribe medication.
Puls Dedinje Psychiatric Team
Part of our team is academician Prof. Dušica Lećić Toševski, a psychiatry specialist and psychotherapy subspecialist. She is a regular member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, an honorary member of the World Psychiatric Association, a member of the Board of the European Association of Professors Emeritus, a member of the Working Group of the World Health Organization, an international member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Great Britain, a distinguished member of the American and European Psychiatric Associations, a distinguished member of the International Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hong Kong, a member of the Royal Medical Board of HRH Princess Katherine Karađorđević, a member of the International Association for the Study of Personality Disorders, president of the Psychiatric Association of the Balkans and Southeast Europe, president of the Serbian Psychiatric Association, and a member of the Council of the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade. She treats:
– Personality disorders
– Depression
– PTSD
– Anxiety disorders
– Affective disorders
Scheduling a Consultation with a Psychiatrist
Scheduling a consultation with our psychiatrist, academician Prof. Dušica Lećić, can be done simply and quickly. At Puls Dedinje, we understand the importance of accessibility and support when it comes to your well-being, so we have made the process of scheduling an examination as easy as possible for you. We understand that your time is precious. Offer us a time that suits you, and we will try to meet your needs.
