Psychiatry: medical treatment for mental health

What psychiatry treats

Psychiatry is the medical specialty dedicated to diagnosing and treating mental health disorders: anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances or attention difficulties, among others. As a doctor, the psychiatrist assesses the clinical picture as a whole, can prescribe medication when it's indicated, and follows up on its effects.

Asking for help with a mental health problem is just as reasonable a decision as consulting for any other medical reason. The consultation is treated with the same confidentiality as any other specialty.

Common reasons for a consultation

• Anxiety: constant worry, anxiety attacks or physical symptoms — palpitations, tightness in the chest, trouble sleeping — that get in the way of daily life.
• Depression and mood disorders: ongoing sadness, loss of interest or energy, changes in appetite or sleep.
• Insomnia: persistent trouble sleeping or resting, when its causes and treatment are worth assessing.
• Adult ADHD: diagnostic assessment of attention, organisation and impulsivity problems that have persisted since childhood.
• Medication follow-up: regular review of medication, dose adjustments and assessing effects, including for treatments started at other centres.

What the consultation involves

The first visit is a thorough clinical assessment: what symptoms there are, since when, how they affect work, rest and relationships, what treatments have been tried and what medical history exists. Based on that information, the psychiatrist proposes a plan that may include medication, specific guidance and follow-up reviews.

When the case calls for it, treatment is coordinated with the Psychology clinic at the same centre: combining psychotherapy and medical treatment is a common option, and having both professionals on the same team makes follow-up easier.

When to book an appointment

It's worth booking an appointment when symptoms last for weeks, get worse or interfere with daily life, and also to review treatment already under way. You can book privately or through your insurance at our centres in Torre del Mar, Rincón de la Victoria and Málaga city.

If there's an immediate risk, with thoughts of self-harm, the right step is to go to an emergency department or call 112 or 024, without waiting for an appointment.