Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who has attended medical school and completed specialized training in the medical treatment of the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems.
Psychiatrists, as physicians, can order and perform a full range of medical laboratory and other tests which, combined with discussions with patients, can help provide a picture of the patient’s physical, emotional, and mental state. Their education and training equip them to understand the complex relationship between psychological and medical disorders and their relationships with genetics and family history. Completion of a thorough psychiatric evaluation can help lead to a diagnosis and allows the psychiatrist to work with the patient to develop appropriate treatment plans.
Psychiatrists can use a variety of treatments, including medications, depending on the needs of each patient. Medications that are used by psychiatrists can beneficially modulate chemical signaling and communication within the brain, which may reduce some symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatrists have the clinical expertise to prescribe these medications, evaluate the potential for medication interactions, and monitor for any side effects.
Our Psychiatry department is located at our main building in Layton, Utah on the bottom floor.
People seek psychiatric help for a variety of reasons. These problems can be sudden, such as panic attacks, hallucinations, or thoughts of suicide. Other struggle with more long-term symptoms, including feelings of hopelessness and anxiety that never seem to go away, causing everyday life to feel pointless or out of control.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is the use of short magnetic energy pulses for stimulation of the nerve cells within the brain. Magnetic energy pulses are delivered to the areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation and emotional judgement. The magnetic pulses generate an electric current in the brain that causes the neurons to activate as well as stimulate the surrounding brain cells.
