Discover Convenient and Comprehensive Psychiatric Care for Common Problems

Major Depressive Disorder is a common problem which affects an estimated 20 million Americans, many of whom are untreated or partially treated. MDD leads to unnecessary suffering and economic hardship, with symptoms characterized by persistent sadness and irritability, worry low self-esteem, feelings of excessive guilt, self-destructive thoughts and behaviors, and changes in sleep, appetite, energy levels and motivation. Depression may change with the season (Seasonal Affective Disorder), often worse in the darker months, and can occur cyclically with ovulatory cycle (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), and as part of other psychiatric and medical conditions.

Depression is undertreated, leading to needless suffering and disability. Some people think they should be depressed, for instance in the face of life’s difficult problems, but Major Depression is a medical condition, treatable with integrative wellness-oriented medical approaches along with appropriate psychotherapy and behavioral coaching. Depression may be difficult to fully treat, an issue made worse by the symptoms of helplessness and hopelessness which often accompany the condition. New treatments which work for treatment-resistant depression may be able to help if other approaches have failed. We will work with you, your loved ones, and other members of your treatment team.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is not everyday worry. It is a condition characterized by dysfunction and excessive distress lasting for at least two years, characterized by persistent worry, symptoms of nervousness, difficulties with concentration and decision-making, and bodily symptoms including neck and back pain, muscle tension, and inability to relax mentally and/or physically. As with many psychiatric conditions, people may think that these issues are normal. Some anxiety is normal, even adaptive, and everyone has stress, but with GAD this issue is interfering with everyday living and personal satisfaction, even if one is able to get by.

GAD is treatable with medications, some forms of therapy, and wellness-oriented approaches including meditation and relaxation work. We focus on medical care of GAD while ensuring that the overall course of prescribed treatment is evidence-based, monitoring for response and making timely treatment changes if there should be more improvement.

Panic Disorder is a condition characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, with worry about having a panic attack, the potential negative effects of having a panic attack including worries about having a heart attack or losing control, and changes in behavior because of panic attacks. Panic attacks may be, but are not always, accompanied by agoraphobia, when a person avoids situations because the are concerned they could have a panic attack while they are out to dinner, traveling, or doing other activities they would otherwise be able to enjoy free from concerns about panic.

Fortunately, in most cases panic disorder can be significantly alleviated and even resolve fully with proper treatment. Treatment can include medication as well as therapeutic approaches, often involving cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation work. We can help to evaluate and treatment panic with medication in collaboration with appropriate therapy referral and treatment monitoring.

Social Anxiety Disorder is a condition in which people experience high levels of worry and discomfort in social and work performance situations, characterized by desires to avoid such situations and anxiety in anticipation, feelings of being judged during social and performance engagements, and thinking about such events afterward with embarrassment and concern for what people may have been thinking. It can affect social interactions, work settings, and interfere with everyday activities such as eating out or using restrooms. This isn’t simply mild anxiety about what other people think but is severe enough to cause distress and dysfunction.

Fortunately, in addition to behavioral treatment, there are affective medications and other psychiatric interventions. Medication can reduce overall anxiety, and include antidepressants and other antianxiety agents, as well as medications which can block the action of adrenalin in the body, reducing physical symptoms of anxiety. In addition, treatments such as TMS and neurofeedback can offer relief and do not require the use of medication. People with social anxiety can benefit from psychotherapy both to help overcome anxiety during social situations, and also to understand the origins of social anxiety and address them at their roots.

OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a condition in which people experience significant negative impact from repetitive thoughts and behaviors which lead to distress and dysfunction. People with OCD often lack insight into the nature of their problems, which nevertheless are noticed by others close to them in professional and personal circles, often leading to relationship and performance issues. People with OCD may experience troubling intrusive and repetitive thoughts, images or urges, which they try but are unable to suppress or ignore. People with OCD may engage in daily, time-consuming rituals which they think are essential to prevent something bad from happening, but which cause functional problems. They may think that some of these experiences are actual threats to them, for example believing that if one does not flip the light-switch exactly 13 times, someone will get sick and die.

OCD is treatable with medications and therapy, often require combined and more intensive approaches to get significant relief. OCD may not fully resolve in a short period of time, and the treatment of OCD therefore is often chronic and requires experienced providers to help manage expectations and get long-term relief, rather than give up on treatment in the short-term when improvement is gradual.

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition starting in childhood and often extending into adulthood. There are two types of ADHD, inattentive type and hyperactive, though they are often combined. People with inattentive symptoms are easily distractible and tend to forget things, and have difficulty completing projects. People with hyperactive symptoms have difficulty sitting still and are fidgety and restless, and typically have difficulty being too impulsive. This can lead bright children and adults to perform more poorly than they should be, leading to negative effects on self-esteem and achievement. ADHD should be diagnosed on clinical examination, and comprehensive diagnosis may require formal neurocognitive testing.

ADHD responds well to medication and non-pharmacologic treatment (such as behavioral therapy and neurofeedback) and coaching, and requires thoughtful care to ensure the best outcome. We can work with you to obtain a proper evaluation, make sure causes of inattention and impulsivity other than ADHD are considered as part of treatment-planning, and provide treatment and care management to get you on track.