A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the mental health field. They can perform psychological and medical laboratory tests in part by discussing with patients to better understand a patient’s physical and mental state. Psychiatrists prescribe various forms of treatment including medication, psychotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and other treatments depending on the needs of the patient.

There are numerous reasons why one should visit a psychiatrist. Some examples include schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, drug abuse, sexual dysfunction, personality disorders, feeding and eating disorders, and more. After making a diagnosis, the psychiatrist will develop a treatment plan that works best. It is good to also remember that mental health exists on a spectrum and not all require a psychiatrist. Some seek help from a counselor or psychologist first and are then referred to a psychiatrist for further evaluation.

So, how often should you check in with your psychiatrist? This is dependent on the disorder being treated or the severity of the illness. After diagnosis, the psychiatrist would place the patient on a treatment course which can range from days to months. After the initial treatment and symptoms are in remission it is still important to maintain health by checking in regularly, this could be once a month or if doing well, once every three months. This should essentially be decided by good communication between a patient and the doctor.

It is important to know triggers and symptoms that may require reaching out and talking to your psychiatrist. If you need more information, you can always reach out to a psychiatrist, mental health nurse practitioner, or therapist in Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, Tx area, we offer both virtual and in-person appointments. Visit and contact us at https://www.lytepsych.com.

References:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-psychiatrist

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/AnxietyLiving/story?id=4664795