Psychiatry

Psychiatry is a medical specialty focusing on mental and behavioral health. The team at KAVN Health in Columbia, Maryland, specializes in psychiatric services. Each patient benefits from a thorough evaluation, including a psychological assessment, to ensure they receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. To learn how you can benefit from high-quality psychiatry services, call KAVN Health or book an in-person or telehealth appointment online today. Their team provides telemedicine services to patients throughout Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Washington, DC. 

What is psychiatry?

Psychiatry concerns the diagnosis and treatment of people suffering from mental health disorders. KAVN Health offers expert care delivered with compassion by board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners. Conditions the practice treats include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

These conditions can cause severe, life-changing problems. Some are curable with expert care, but others require life-long treatment.

Psychiatry also covers developmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including Asperger’s syndrome. In addition, psychiatry can help patients who’ve suffered emotional or sexual abuse and those with neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

How do I benefit from psychiatry?

Untreated mental health problems often worsen without proper treatment, making it hard to work, study, maintain relationships, or enjoy a happy family life. As these conditions progress, you may start to self-harm, turn to alcohol or drugs to cope, and eventually feel suicidal.

Early intervention from a psychiatric professional helps you avoid these outcomes. In addition, the sooner you seek help for a psychiatric disorder, the quicker you can recover from your condition or learn to manage it effectively. 

Experts in psychiatry, like those at KAVN Health, receive specialized training in the physical changes your body undergoes as well as the emotional and psychological effects of psychiatric disorders. They offer comprehensive, holistic care that addresses the causes of your condition for optimal recovery.

What treatments does psychiatry use?

Psychiatric treatments include:

Medication management

Medicines often play a vital role in treating psychiatric disorders by reducing symptom severity. Depending on your diagnosis, you might benefit from antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, stimulants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotic medications.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a broad term for talk therapies. These use various techniques that help you overcome past traumas, cope with current problems, and learn to manage your mental health. Techniques include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy, group therapy, and motivational interviewing.

Before designing your personalized treatment plan, the KAVN Health team performs a complete evaluation. You attend a consultation and undergo a psychological assessment that helps your provider diagnose accurately and determine which treatments will most likely help.

Call KAVN Health or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment online today to benefit from exceptional psychiatry services.