Our New York City Psychiatrist Robert D. McMullen, MD will speak in this video about:
- What kinds of conditions does a psychiatrist treat?
- What does a psychiatrist do?
Welcome! I’m Dr. Robert D. McMullen, and I have been in practice as a psychiatrist for over 35 years. I attended Georgetown University for medical school and specialized in psychiatry at Columbia Presbyterian. I currently see clients at my office in New York City. In this video, we will be exploring the scope of practice for the Psychiatrist and the many different conditions that we can help treat in our patients.
What Do People See a Psychiatrist For?
In today’s current health care setting, a psychiatrist typically evaluates patients for what type of care they need, which often times include a medication. People usually come to see us when they require a medication to combat their illness. In addition, some psychiatrists will begin Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, for their client. However, most psychotherapy is now performed by social workers or psychologists, who often do a better job in therapy than many psychiatrists. The therapists are great at what they do and this reallocation of patient resources allows for a better use of the psychiatrist’s training since they attend medical and a specialized program for their field.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Psychiatrists in the USA may also prescribe Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, TMS, for their client. TMS Therapy is a relatively new way for psychiatrists to treat their patients. This mode of treatment is FDA approved and can help individuals suffering from depression who have not seen improvement during other courses of treatment. TMS can be performed in the physician’s office and we currently use this treatment in our office here in NYC. It is non-invasive, so there is no need for sedation or anesthesia.
The initial course of TMS therapy usually consists of up to five treatments per week for four to six weeks. Each TMS session lasts for approximately 40 minutes. The patient is kept awake and comfortably seated during the session. A small device is rested lightly on the client’s head as it delivers magnetic stimulation directly to the areas of the brain that regulate mood. The magnetic impulses delivered are similar in strength to those used in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, machine.
Therapy is safe and has over 20 years of research backing it as a useful tool for psychiatrists to help their clients enjoy life again. This method has shown significant success in a wide variety of patients. It also has little to no side effects whatsoever.
Can There Ever Be Treatment Without the Use of Medications?
I’ve been asked previously if I ever care for clients without prescribing medication. I have treated patients without pharmacological intervention, though not very often. In fact, I treated a Catholic nun years ago and helped her to wean herself off of all her psychiatric medicine prescriptions effectively. In many cases, however, medication is extremely beneficial in helping the brain’s chemistry to regulate back to normal levels, offering relief to the client when it is unable to be found without them.
What are Some Common Conditions That Are Treated by a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists help clients with a vast array of medical conditions including but not limited to:
• Depression
• Anxiety Disorders such as Panic Disorder, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder among others
• Schizophrenia
• Manic Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Schizoaffective Disorder
How Can a Psychiatrist Help?
Psychiatrists help their patients by first determining a diagnosis. At our practice, we believe that a diagnosis is a work in progress. For example, after several visits with a client I may discover what first appeared to be an anxiety disorder is more specifically a social phobia. In some cases, through treatment, we may discover that the issues you are experiencing are entirely related to something different than the reason you sought treatment originally. That’s the goal of treatment, to help you understand what is really happening so you can feel better.
At our USA located practice, TMS Brain Care we help each and every client as an individual. We want to ensure that you start to enjoy your life again. Please give us a call at 212 362-9635 to make an appointment at our NYC office. You can also visit us at https://tmsbraincare.com. Don’t forget to click the like button for our video and to subscribe to our channel. If you enjoyed this video, please forward it to your friends and family and leave us a comment with your thoughts and questions. Thanks!
