Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical field specializing in mental health diagnosis and treatment, particularly using medication to manage mental illness. MATClinics' board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners provide comprehensive psychiatric services including medication management for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and co-occurring substance use disorders. We offer both in-person services at select locations, and virtual psychiatric care, working closely with your therapists and counselors to deliver integrated, whole-person treatment.
What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a medical specialty focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who complete four years of medical school followed by four years of specialized psychiatry residency training. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPS) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who have completed a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) specializing in psychiatry.
What Psychiatry Providers Do:
- Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations.
- Diagnose mental health and substance use disorders.
- Prescribe and manage psychiatric medications.
- Provide psychotherapy (some psychiatrists).
- Monitor treatment progress and adjust care plans.
- Coordinate with other healthcare providers.
What Conditions Do Psychiatry Providers Treat?
Mental Health Disorders
Depression (Major Depressive Disorder): Persistent sadness, loss of interest, energy changes, sleep and appetite disturbances, concentration difficulties, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.
Anxiety Disorders:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
- Panic disorder.
- Social anxiety disorder.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Bipolar Disorder:
Alternating depressive and manic episodes affecting mood, energy, and behavior.
Psychotic Disorders:
Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder involving hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking.
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder):
Difficulty with attention, hyperactivity, and impulse control affecting daily functioning.
Co-Occurring Disorders (Dual Diagnosis)
Nearly 50% of people with substance use disorders also have mental health conditions. Our psychiatry providers specialize in integrated dual diagnosis treatment addressing both simultaneously.
How Psychiatric Treatment Works
Psychiatric treatment uses medication to correct brain chemistry imbalances contributing to mental illness and addiction. Modern psychiatric medications are highly effective, well-tolerated, and substantially improve quality of life.
How Medications Work:
Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs): Increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels, improving mood, reducing anxiety, and restoring emotional balance. Used for depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD.
Mood Stabilizers: Reduce extreme mood swings in bipolar disorder, preventing both manic and depressive episodes. Include lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine.
Antipsychotics: Reduce hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Also used for severe depression with psychotic features.
Anti-Anxiety Medications: Provide short-term anxiety relief during crises or alongside longer-term treatments. Benzodiazepines carry addiction risk and require careful monitoring. Benzodiazepines are not prescribed at MATClinics.
Stimulants: Improve focus and reduce hyperactivity in ADHD by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine. Stimulants are not prescribed at MATClinics.
The Medication Process: Psychiatry providers start medications at low doses, gradually increasing to find optimal balance between symptom relief and side effects. Finding the right medication and dose takes time, typically 4-8 weeks for full effects.
Our Psychiatry Services
Psychiatric Evaluation and Diagnosis
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is the foundation of effective treatment. Our psychiatry providers conduct thorough assessments including:
Medical and Psychiatric History:
- Current symptoms and their duration.
- Previous mental health treatment.
- Medication history (what's worked, what hasn't).
- Family mental health history.
- Medical conditions affecting mental health.
- Substance use history.
Mental Status Examination: Structured assessment of appearance, behavior, mood, thought processes, perception, cognition, insight, and judgment.
Diagnostic Assessment: Using DSM-5 criteria, psychiatry providers identify specific mental health diagnoses guiding treatment planning.
Laboratory Testing (when indicated): Blood work ruling out medical causes of psychiatric symptoms (thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, etc.).
Timeline: 60 minutes
Outcome: Accurate diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and collaborative treatment plan development.
Medication Management
Ongoing medication management ensures optimal treatment outcomes through regular monitoring and adjustments.
What Medication Management Includes:
Initial Prescribing:
- Evidence-based medication selection for your specific diagnosis.
- Discussion of expected benefits, timeline, and potential side effects.
- Starting dose determination.
- Safety information and precautions.
Regular Monitoring:
- Symptom tracking and improvement assessment.
- Side effect evaluation and management.
- Dose adjustments optimizing effectiveness.
- Medication changes when needed.
- Drug interaction monitoring.
Frequency:
- Weekly or bi-weekly initially.
- Monthly once stabilized.
- More frequent during crises or major changes.
Collaborative Care: Your psychiatry provider coordinates with therapists, counselors, case managers, and primary care physicians ensuring comprehensive, integrated treatment.
Telepsychiatry (Virtual Visits)
Virtual psychiatric appointments via secure video platform offer convenience without compromising quality.
Advantages:
- No travel time or transportation barriers.
- Greater scheduling flexibility.
- Privacy of home environment.
- Easier appointment attendance.
- Equal effectiveness to in-person care.
How It Works: You meet with a psychiatry provider via HIPAA-compliant video platform at scheduled time, discuss symptoms and medication effects, receive electronic prescriptions sent to your pharmacy, and schedule follow-up appointments.
Who Benefits: Anyone preferring virtual care, those with transportation challenges, people with mobility limitations, individuals with busy schedules, and patients in rural areas.
Why Psychiatric Medication Matters
Correcting Chemical Imbalances
Mental illness often involves neurotransmitter imbalances that therapy alone cannot address. Medication corrects these biological factors, creating foundation for therapy and recovery work.
Research-Proven Effectiveness:
- 60-80% of people with depression improve with medication.
- Anxiety disorders respond well to SSRIs and SNRIs.
- Mood stabilizers reduce bipolar episode frequency by 50-70%.
- Antipsychotics reduce psychotic symptoms substantially.
- MAT medications cut opioid use by 50% and overdose deaths by 60%.
Enabling Therapeutic Progress
Severe mental health symptoms interfere with therapy engagement. When depression causes crushing fatigue, anxiety triggers constant panic, or psychosis distorts reality, talk therapy has limited effectiveness. Medication reduces symptoms to manageable levels, allowing you to participate fully in counseling and make meaningful behavioral changes.
Quality of Life Improvement
Untreated mental illness devastates quality of life, destroying relationships, ending careers, isolating people, and sometimes leading to suicide. Effective medication restores functioning, allowing you to work, maintain relationships, enjoy activities, and live fully.
What to Expect in Psychiatric Treatment
First Psychiatric Appointment
Your initial evaluation establishes the foundation for treatment:
- Comprehensive assessment (60 minutes).
- Diagnostic clarification.
- Treatment options discussion (medication, therapy, lifestyle changes).
- Medication initiation (if appropriate).
- Questions and concerns addressed.
What to Bring:
- List of current medications.
- Previous psychiatric records (if available).
- Questions about treatment.
- Open mind and honesty about symptoms.
Ongoing Treatment
Regular appointments monitor:
- Effectiveness: Are symptoms improving?
- Side effects: Any problematic reactions?
- Adherence: Taking medication as prescribed?
- Life changes: New stressors or circumstances affecting mental health?
- Adjustments: Dose changes or medication switches if needed.
Medication Safety
Common Side Effects
Most psychiatric medications cause mild, temporary side effects that resolve as your body adjusts. These include but are not limited to:
Antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs):
- Nausea (usually subsides).
- Sleep changes.
- Sexual side effects.
- Weight changes.
Mood Stabilizers:
- Drowsiness.
- Weight gain.
- Tremor.
- Increased thirst (lithium).
Antipsychotics:
- Sedation.
- Weight gain.
- Metabolic changes.
- Movement side effects (some medications).
Your psychiatry provider will: Monitor side effects closely, adjust doses minimizing problems, switch medications if side effects are intolerable, and provide strategies managing temporary side effects.
Safety Precautions
Take as Prescribed: Don't skip doses, double up, or stop abruptly without psychiatric guidance. Many medications require gradual tapering.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs: Substances interact dangerously with psychiatric medications and worsen mental health conditions.
Communicate Changes: Report new symptoms, side effects, or life changes affecting treatment.
Regular Monitoring: Attend appointments, complete recommended lab work (some medications require periodic blood tests).
Emergency Situations: Seek immediate help if experiencing severe side effects, suicidal thoughts intensifying, or dangerous behaviors emerging.
Treatment Outcomes
Successful psychiatric treatment produces:
Symptom Reduction:
- Significant decrease in depression, anxiety, mood swings.
- Reduced psychotic symptoms.
- Better emotional stability.
Functional Improvement:
- Return to work or school.
- Restored relationships.
- Improved self-care.
- Enhanced daily functioning.
Recovery Support:
- Reduced substance use (dual diagnosis treatment).
- Better therapy engagement.
- Increased quality of life.
- Hope for the future.
Begin Psychiatric Treatment
MATClinics' psychiatric services provide expert medication management for mental health and addiction. Our board-certified psychiatry providers are committed to helping you find relief through evidence-based treatment.
MATClinics currently accepts all Maryland Medicaid programs as well as Medicare Part B and all CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield plans. Learn more about what to expect and a list of the insurance programs accepted.
Ready to start? Contact MATClinics today to schedule your psychiatric evaluation.
FAQs
1: How do I know if I need psychiatric medication?
Consider medication if you're experiencing severe symptoms interfering with daily life, haven't improved with therapy alone, have been diagnosed with conditions typically requiring medication (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression), or struggle with co-occurring addiction and mental health issues. Your psychiatry provider will assess and recommend appropriate treatment.
2: Will I need medication forever?
Not necessarily. Some people take medication short-term (months to a year) for acute episodes. Others manage chronic conditions with long-term medication, similar to how diabetes or high blood pressure require ongoing treatment. Duration depends on diagnosis, symptom severity, and response to treatment.
3: Are psychiatric medications addictive?
Most psychiatric medications are not addictive. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics don't cause dependence. Some anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines) carry addiction risk and require careful monitoring.
4: What if medication doesn't work?
Not all medications work for everyone, and finding the right one may require trials. Your psychiatry provider will try different medications or combinations, adjust doses, add therapy if not already involved, and consider other treatments (TMS, ECG for severe depression). Persistence usually leads to effective treatment.
5: Can I do therapy and medication together?
Yes, and this combination often produces best outcomes! Medication addresses biological aspects while therapy tackles psychological and behavioral factors. Integrated treatment is especially effective for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and dual diagnosis.
