World Brain Day is marked by various activities and events throughout Thailand, including public seminars, health fairs, and awareness campaigns aimed at educating the public on brain health and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. In recognition of World Brain Day, St. George's University (SGU), School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, highlights the field of neuropsychiatry and the different specialties available within this innovative medical branch.
How is neuropsychiatry defined?
In simple terms, neuropsychiatry aims to bridge the gap between neurology and psychiatry in the evaluation and treatment of disorders related to the brain and nervous systems. Possible symptoms that may lead a patient to seek a neuropsychiatric evaluation include depression, mania, challenges related to focusing and learning, insomnia or other sleep disorders, and interpersonal difficulties such as unpredictable moods and behaviors.
What does a neuropsychiatrist do?
Neuropsychiatrists view the brain as the organ from which all behavior emerges. Their primary goal is to increase knowledge and understanding of brain-behavior relationships and expand therapeutic interventions.
These specialists provide evaluation and treatment for emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual difficulties within the context of neurologic illness. Neuropsychiatric conditions include cognitive disturbances and psychiatric symptoms such as movement disorders, seizure disorders, traumatic brain injury, substance-induced disorders, and cerebrovascular disease.
There are various types of treatment neuropsychiatrists may prescribe. Medication regimens, psychological counseling, and/or psychiatric therapy are all common. Specific treatment plans are determined based on the precise cause, clinical presentation, and severity of the neuropsychiatric disorder.
Regardless of treatment methods, neuropsychiatrists always aim to help patients and their families better understand and deal with the psychological effects of their disorders.
Make an impact as a neuropsychiatrist
Doctors who specialize in neuropsychiatry help us better understand the neurological underpinnings of psychiatric and neurologic disorders so that patients can receive higher-quality, more effective treatment.
Many aspiring medical students may feel called to pursue this subspecialty. Completing the medical training needed to become a neuropsychiatrist can be extensive, but the life-changing work you'll be able to do as a licensed and board-certified physician can make it all worth it.
To learn more about how academic programs and support at SGU can empower aspiring neuropsychiatrists, please visit https://www.sgu.edu/.