What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of science that deals with mental health and diseases. Doctors working in the branch of science, which is divided into two main branches as child, adolescent and adult, focus on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders that can be seen in various age groups. For this purpose, psychiatrists create treatment programs specific to the needs of the patient by using various diagnostic techniques.

How is the Diagnosis of Psychiatric Diseases Determined?
Psychiatric disorders are diagnosed by observing a person’s behavioral and mood disorders for a while. Common methods used within the process in question can be listed as follows:

Psychiatric Clinical Evaluation
Clinical assessment is one of the main methods used to diagnose psychiatric disorders. The method is performed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. A series of interviews are conducted with the patient to evaluate the symptoms. During the interviews, detailed information is obtained about the patient’s life history, current mood, behavior, thought content and other symptoms.

Taking Anamnesis
Anamnesis is the collection of information by asking questions to a person in order to diagnose their illness or understand their condition. The anamnesis method focuses on collecting data about the patient’s personal and family medical history. Factors such as living conditions, traumas, stress factors and substance use history, if any, are also taken into account during the interview. This information makes it possible to understand the causes of the patient’s current symptoms.

Assessment according to DSM-5 or ICD-10 Criteria
DSM-5 stands for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. ICD-10 is the guideline published by the World Health Organization for the International Classification of Diseases. Both guidelines are reference sources used in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Symptoms are evaluated and concluded in terms of compliance with the diagnostic criteria specified in these two guidelines.

Laboratory and Imaging Tests
Some diseases may require laboratory and imaging tests to determine a diagnosis. The tests administered by the psychiatrist assess the neurological and medical conditions of the person. Depending on the person’s condition, medical tests may be limited to blood tests and neurological examinations. If deemed necessary, imaging tests such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) may also be used.

Other Assessment Tools
Standardized assessment tools can also be used in the process of diagnosing psychiatric disorders. These tools are ideal for assessing symptoms of specific illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Treatment of Psychiatric Illnesses
The treatment process for psychiatric illnesses varies on a case-by-case basis, but may include the following stages

Assessment and Diagnosis: The first step in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses is to assess the symptoms and make a diagnosis. In this step of the process, the methods described in the previous section are utilized. The most emphasized issues in the assessment and diagnosis process are the health history of the person and his/her family and the current mood state.

Creating a Treatment Plan: After the diagnosis is made, the patient’s symptoms and needs are addressed in the formulation of a treatment plan. The plan may include different treatment methods according to variables based on these two criteria. The treatment plan can be updated during the implementation phase according to changes in the patient’s individual needs and response to treatment.

Psychotherapy Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy) is one of the most important steps in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Talk therapy can be applied in different ways. In other words, psychotherapy sessions can be carried out individually, as well as in family, couple and group settings, involving more than one person. This step of the treatment process aims to improve the emotional and mental health of the person, improve their ability to cope with stress, and help them establish healthy relationships.

Medication Therapy: The treatment of some psychiatric disorders may require the use of medication. Psychiatric medications are used to alleviate symptoms. For this purpose, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers and other psychiatric drugs may be added to the treatment process. The dosage of medication varies according to the severity of symptoms and the patient’s response to treatment.

Supportive Services: During the treatment process of psychiatric illnesses, supportive services can be provided according to the needs of the patient. These services can be listed as participation in support groups, education and rehabilitation programs.

Monitoring and Evaluation: During the treatment process, the patient’s progress is regularly monitored and evaluated. Factors such as reduction in symptoms, increase in functionality and improvement in quality of life are taken into consideration in order to measure the extent to which the person responds to the treatment. The treatment process can be revised according to changes in the patient’s needs as a result of the evaluation.