Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists are qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems.
Possible reason to seek psychiatric help (not limited to):
- Prolonged feelings of sadness
- Loss of interest in social activities
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Increased drug or alcohol use
- Auditory or visual hallucinations
- Extreme emotional highs and lows
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Paranoia
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Weight gain or loss unattributed to another condition
Because psychiatrists are physicians, they can order or perform a full range of medical laboratory and psychological tests which, combined with discussions with patients, help provide a picture of a patient’s physical and mental state.
Psychiatrists often prescribe medications in combination with psychotherapy.
Our psychiatrist, Dr. Efra Acosta-Leon specializes in the following services:
- Psychotic Disorders
- Mood disorders (Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, etc.)
- Consultations to improve systems of care for corporations
- Guardianship Examinations
- Psychiatric disability evaluations
- Independent medical evaluations
- Evaluations of emotional distress
- Testamentary capacity – evaluation for ability for clients to write will
- Expert witness testimony