PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS MAY NOT BE SOLELY PSYCHOLOGICAL IN ORIGIN…
Psychiatrists, through the entirety of their medical training, learn to evaluate patients in a holistic manner. Over time, this training is further enriched by the clinical experience they gain from their patients.
When assessing the causes of a patient’s psychiatric condition, psychiatrists adopt a very broad perspective. For example, a psychiatrist evaluates holistically whether the patient’s symptoms are psychological in nature, secondary to difficult life experiences, or caused by another condition that impairs physical health.
It is well known that some psychiatric symptoms and disorders arise not solely from an individual’s psychological state, but also as a cause or consequence of other conditions related to general physical health. For instance, thyroid disorders, neurological diseases, certain tumoral conditions such as brain tumors, rheumatological disorders, immunological diseases, cardiovascular conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, and musculoskeletal diseases may all progress insidiously by producing symptoms that resemble psychiatric complaints.
In some cases, psychiatric symptoms may emerge as a result of the presence of these medical conditions. Certain symptoms of psychiatric disorders (such as fatigue, loss of appetite, palpitations, headaches, and back pain) may either be warning signs of serious medical illnesses or manifestations of purely psychiatric conditions. When patients present with such complaints, specialists in the relevant medical fields may, at times, refer them to a psychiatrist once they conclude that the symptoms are psychological in nature. However, in many cases, these physicians initiate psychiatric pharmacotherapy themselves (most commonly antidepressants).
In fact, the appropriate approach is that when a patient realizes that a medication prescribed by a non-psychiatric specialist (such as internal medicine, cardiology, dermatology, etc.) is a psychiatric medication, the patient should seek consultation from a psychiatrist—the specialist qualified to prescribe and manage such treatments. This approach increases the effectiveness of treatment.
Once it has been determined that symptoms related to organ systems (i.e., with an organic basis) are not present and that the complaints are psychological in origin, the subsequent phase of treatment should be managed by a psychiatrist.
Patients who do not benefit from antidepressants prescribed by non-psychiatric physicians often return to psychiatrists afterward, which leads to a loss of valuable time. What must be remembered is the principle that “There is no disease, only the patient.” Every individual is unique; not every antidepressant is effective for every symptom or every disorder.
The belief that psychiatrists will necessarily prescribe the same medications even when they consider psychological causes is incorrect and stems from insufficient knowledge about the field of psychiatry.
Moreover, we are in agreement that psychiatric medications should not be used solely based on the recommendations of non-psychiatric physicians, nor on the advice of acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, or similar sources; therefore, no further explanation is needed on this matter.