A psychiatrist is a physician that specialises in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. It is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, prevention, diagnosis and also the treatment of mental health issues. They are different from psychologists, and they evaluate patients for identifying whether the symptoms are the outcome of a physical illness or a combination of psychological and physical problems or just they are related to psychiatry.

What do they do for diagnosis?

As a part of the clinical assessment process, psychiatrists will have to employ mental status examination, blood testing, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, brain imaging, and physical exam and Computerize tomography. They prescribe medications, and in some cases, they use psychotherapy. Most doctors in this specialisation deal with the medical management of mental health issues.

What does a consultant psychiatrist do?

A psychiatric consultant supports in treating patients with behavioural health issues. They either perform individual or with a group of other medical professionals. These professionals, in general, assist the psychiatrist to suggest appropriate recommendations to the primary care team in planning treatment for a patient. They might also recommend treatment changes for the fundamental group.

They rightly identify the cause of a health issue, if nothing is abnormal with the functioning of the organs in the human body. For instance, if all blood test reports and all diagnosis methods show negative results in a patient facing any health issue like pain, it might be due to stress and other mental health issues. A psychiatrist can talk to the patient and can identify the problems that show up as stress by getting deep into his mind.

In some instances, patients are managed by the thoughts in their subconscious mind. Only a psychiatrist can identify it and provide the counselling needed for helping a patient to get the best relief.

Medications suggested:

Based on the condition of the patient, they suggest sleep medications as depressed patients have sleep deprivation. Further, they suggest drugs to relax the mental state of patients. For instance, they recommend anti-depressant medications and also suggest some healthy lifestyle changes to the patients. These changes will bring positive changes to their mental state, thereby helping them lead a happy life.

Tips to choose a psychiatrist:

Here are some tips to help a patient find the best psychiatrist in India to help with the mental health issues. Deciding to get help with your behaviours, relationships and feelings can be hard. However, seeking help from a psychiatrist can be the best idea to overcome the struggles. At this time, you will have to consider some important factors in finding the right psychiatrist for you:

Get referrals:

You can begin your search with the referral list of potential psychiatrists’ right from your primary care doctor. You can add to this list by getting help from healthcare providers, friends, and family members. You should take time to research doctors, and you can call up for an appointment. On your first visit, you can somewhat judge whether you feel comfortable with the doctor.

Research for credentials:

You should carefully look for the membership of the psychiatrist with the appropriate boards. Even, you can search for forums that discuss the doctors practising under different specialisations, where you can find help from the past and present patients of psychiatrists.

How about the experience?

The experience of the psychiatrists truly counts. Make sure that the professional is experienced. He/she can handle your conditions with ease and will help you get out of the issue with ease. You should also consider the gender of the psychiatrist as you should feel comfortable to personally discuss.

So, selecting the right psychiatrist is going to make a difference in your life be it professional or personal.