Integrative Psychiatry

What is Integrative Psychiatry?

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Integrative psychiatry takes a whole-person approach to mental health by helping to improve all areas of your health to enhance and promote better psychological well-being and cognitive function.

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Suppose you are feeling depressed or anxious and seek help from a traditional primary care physician or psychiatrist, who may give you a prescription for antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication. However, unfortunately, pharmaceutical medication isn’t enough to deliver optimal mental health. Many studies show that these medications do not always perform well compared to psychological therapy and supplements. There are also significant long-term health concerns about SSRI-type antidepressants, which are often also used for anxiety disorders.​

 

Root Cause Analysis: Biological Factors in Mental Health

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Issues such as low mood, anxiety, sleep issues and attention issues can be related to underlying biological or functional issues. With integrative psychiatry, diagnostic lab tests can help root out biological problems that cause mental health symptoms. For example, psychiatric symptoms can be associated with: hormonal imbalances, thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, brain pathology, and gut microbiome problems. We can investigate and treat these issues.​

 

Hormones and Neurotransmitter Balance

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Peri menopause and menopause cause hormone deficiencies that affect mood, anxiety and sleep. Most women respond well to bioidentical hormone therapy, and this often avoids the need for medication. Thyroid deficiency or excess can also adversely affect anxiety and mood.

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Producing our neurotransmitters requires an adequate supply of the vitamins and minerals essential for their production. An integrative approach to treatment will include evaluating your diet and testing for any vitamin and mineral deficiencies. We can then make personalised food and supplement recommendations based on your individual needs.

 

Genetic issues can affect our ability to perform methylation, an essential cellular process that helps us produce neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. Specific vitamins and supplements can help with methylation issues.​

 

Psychological Therapies for Stress and Anxiety

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Learned negative thinking patterns combined with a stressful lifestyle can make people feel anxious and out of control. We have psychologists who can help you change your thinking to make changes or cope with existing stress. Cognitive therapy focuses on changing current thinking, behaviour, and communication rather than on past experiences, and it is oriented toward problem-solving.

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We also have a therapist who does tension release therapy, which is a way of allowing you to release stress naturally.