5 Things Your Psychiatric Provider Should Know

Your psychiatric provider is an integral part of your mental health care, often prescribing medications and therapy. It is vital to share personal details with them to obtain optimal treatment. Remember to share these 5 crucial pieces of information with your psychiatric provider to help you obtain the best care possible.

1. Your Current Psychiatric Symptoms - It is very important that your psychiatric provider has a correct understanding of your current symptoms in order to make a correct diagnosis and provide you with the most appropriate treatment. Be sure to inform your provider not only of what is brining you in for treatment, but also any other psychiatric symptoms you are experiencing. You may be seeking treatment because you are feeling depressed, but letting your provider know that you have serious anxiety when socializing with others or have nightmares about something traumatic that happened in your past will help you to receive the best care.

2. Your Psychiatric History - In addition to current symptoms, many mental health diagnoses depend upon understanding your history, including if you experienced symptoms at a certain age, or if you have had the same symptoms in the past. In addition, even if you are not having the same symptoms now, certain conditions, such a Bipolar Disorder, may depend on whether you have had a completely different set of symptoms in the past. Getting the wrong diagnosis can sometimes result in drastically different treatment than what is needed, sometimes even making things worse.

3. Medications You Are Currently Taking: It's crucial to provide a comprehensive list of all medications you are currently taking to your psychiatric provider. Some people assume that the medications they are taking for other health conditions won't have much bearing on the medications they receive for their mental health treatment. However, many medications interact with psychiatric medications. Even over-the-counter medications can pose serious risks when combined with certain psychiatric drugs. For instance, a common pain reliever, ibuprofen, can dangerously interact with lithium carbonate, a medication commonly prescribed for mental health conditions.

4. Medications You Have Taken in the Past: Be sure to tell your psychiatric provider any previous psychiatric medications you’ve used, their effectiveness, and your reactions to the medicine. Knowing what medications you've tried in the past can not only prevent wasting time trying the same medication twice, but may also help determine whether it is time to try a whole different class of medications. For example, if you have failed two different antidepressants for depression, it may be time to try adding additional medications to help with your depression rather than continuing to switch between various antidepressants. In addition, knowing your past experiences to medications may provide clues about your diagnosis.

5. Medical Conditions You Have: Inform your psychiatric provider about any existing medical conditions you have. Some medical conditions can impact mental health. For example, hypothyroidism is associated with depression and this depression may improve with treatment of the hypothyroidism. Also, certain medical conditions can interact with certain medications making the risk of using them higher. For example, your provider may choose to avoid using bupropion if you have a seizure disorder or may choose to avoid using propranolol if you have a history of asthma.

Remember that clear and open communication with your psychiatric provider will help you toward your mental health goals. Wishing you continued success on your mental health journey!

David Newby, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Breezy Mental Health, LLC

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for accurate information for your situation.