“Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that aims to study mental health, classify diseases, provide treatment, and protect mental health.”

What Is Psychiatry?

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that aims to study mental health, classify diseases, provide treatment, and protect mental health. Changes in thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are observed in mental illnesses. These changes cause impairments in the person’s functional areas such as family-social life, work-school life. Psychiatry deals with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, guides in protecting against mental problems, and provides guidance in maturing the person’s defense mechanisms and coping with problems.

Psychiatry is a younger branch of science compared to other medical fields. The development of many important psychiatric practices and treatments has been made in the last century. In the last century, significant advances have been made in all medical fields with medical and technological developments. Psychiatry has made great progress since the mid-20th century. Advances in genetics, imaging, and pharmacology have made mental illnesses more understandable.

Environmental and genetic factors play a role together in the emergence of mental illnesses. Mental illnesses can cause changes in our minds and all other systems. The idea that mental illnesses are separate from bodily functions is widespread. However, physical illnesses are affected by mental problems, mental illnesses are affected by physical problems, and our mind and body work as a whole.

In the treatment of psychiatric diseases, different methods are applied according to the characteristics of the diseases and specifically for each patient. After patients are evaluated in detail, treatment options specific to the patient and disease are evaluated in collaboration with patients and appropriate treatment is started.

Due to the unique nature of psychiatry, there are ethical principles and practices specific to this field. Protection of patient privacy, obligation to keep secrets, and clear boundaries of the patient-physician relationship are important issues in this field.

What Diseases Does Psychiatry Treat?

Psychiatry ensures the prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and continuation of follow-ups of mental illnesses that cause impairment in the person’s functional areas, cause difficulty in coping with problems, affect the person’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors, and cause problems in interpersonal relationships.

» Anxiety Disorders:
Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias. These conditions involve excessive worry, fear, and physical symptoms that interfere with daily functioning.

» Mood Disorders:
Depression, bipolar disorder. These affect a person’s emotional state and can cause significant changes in energy, activity levels, and ability to carry out daily tasks.

» Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders:
Conditions characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that the person feels compelled to perform.

» Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders:
Severe mental disorders that affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often involving hallucinations or delusions.

» Trauma-Related Disorders:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions resulting from exposure to traumatic events.

» Somatic Symptom-Related Disorders:
Conditions where psychological distress manifests as physical symptoms.

» Eating Disorders:
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other conditions affecting eating behaviors and body image.

» Sleep Disorders:
Insomnia, hypersomnia, and other conditions affecting sleep quality and patterns.

» Sexual Dysfunction:
Conditions affecting sexual desire, arousal, or satisfaction.

» Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

» Personality Disorders:
Enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate from cultural expectations.

» Addiction and Alcohol-Substance Use Disorders:
Conditions involving compulsive use of substances despite harmful consequences.

» Cognitive Disorders:
Dementia, delirium, and other conditions affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning.

What Methods Are Used for the Diagnosis of Psychiatric Diseases?

» Psychiatric Interview:
The most important factor in the diagnosis of psychiatric diseases is the detailed, adequately timed, structured psychiatric interview that includes unique characteristics for each patient. The patient’s mental structure and problems are recognized by taking a detailed history from the patient and, when necessary, from their relatives, and by performing a mental status examination.

» Laboratory and Imaging Tests:
When necessary, laboratory and imaging tests can be performed to identify or rule out other medical problems that may cause or exacerbate the mental disorder.

» Clinical Scales:
When necessary, clinical scales can be applied to understand the essence and severity of the psychopathology. These standardized assessment tools help quantify symptoms and track treatment progress.

» Collateral Information:
Information from family members, previous medical records, and other sources helps provide a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s condition.

What Are the Treatment Methods for Psychiatric Diseases?

In the treatment of psychiatric diseases, different methods are applied according to the characteristics of the diseases and specifically for each patient. After patients are evaluated in detail, treatment options specific to the patient and disease are evaluated in collaboration with patients and appropriate treatment is applied.

Psychotherapy

» Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.

» Psychodynamic Therapy:
Explores unconscious patterns and past experiences that influence current behavior.

» Interpersonal Therapy:
Addresses interpersonal issues and improves communication skills.

» Supportive Therapy:
Provides emotional support and helps develop coping strategies.

Pharmacotherapy (Drug Treatment)

» Antidepressants:
Medications used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

» Mood Stabilizers:
Medications used to treat bipolar disorder and mood fluctuations.

» Antipsychotics:
Medications used to treat psychotic disorders and severe mental illnesses.

» Anxiolytics:
Medications used to treat anxiety disorders.

» Other Medications:
Stimulants for ADHD, sleep aids, and other specialized medications.

Other Somatic Treatment Options

» Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT):
Used for severe depression or treatment-resistant cases.

» Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS):
Non-invasive brain stimulation for depression treatment.

Treatment Goals and Principles

» Risk assessment in psychiatric problems
» Creation of priority and emergency plans for emergencies
» Evaluation of the adequacy of psychosocial supports
» Referral to other social support resources the patient can receive when necessary
» Increasing functionality
» Making protective and healing recommendations for mental health related to daily life activities

Informing the patient about which treatment will be chosen, getting the patient’s opinions, presenting options, and making decisions together increases collaboration and treatment effectiveness. Psychiatric practices must be based on scientific data. Applying current and evidence-based treatments filtered through ethical principles is one of the main duties of medicine. Approaches that are not current, competent, ethical, and scientific have no place in psychiatric treatment.