Psychiatry

Psychiatry

At Gulf Coast Recovery Center, we are proud to offer the most effective possible treatment options for people with substance use disorders, including addiction psychiatry in Tampa. Working with these therapists, our clients can come to a deeper understanding of their addiction and its causes, as well as what may be needed to achieve lasting recovery. With the right help, our clients overcome the challenges of addiction and possible co-occurring mental health disorders.

What is Addiction Psychiatry?

Addiction psychiatry involves treating individuals living with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder. It is a subspecialty of psychiatry that involves focusing on the evaluation and treatment of people with substance use disorders, and of people with co-occurring disorders, such as, for example, alcoholism plus depression, Xanax addiction plus trauma, or opioid use disorder plus anxiety.

Also known as dual diagnosis, co-occurring disorders result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. A genetic predisposition toward a specific mental health disorder or a substance use disorder is of course possible, but adverse experiences in childhood or adolescence, such as trauma or chronic stress, also increases the risk of developing co-occurring disorders.

Self-medication is another common cause of co-occurring disorders. This occurs when a person with untreated mental health issues turns to substances to alleviate their uncomfortable memories, thoughts, and feelings.

Unfortunately, self-medicating with drugs or alcohol often exacerbates the symptoms of a mental health disorder. This leads to the person turning to drug and alcohol more often and in higher quantities, which then leads to dependency and worsening symptoms.

Some common mental health disorders that can occur alongside a substance use disorder include:

How Does Addiction Psychiatry Work?

Too often, people seeking treatment for addiction do not understand the root causes of their addictive behaviors. The best, most effective addiction treatment programs include a clinical assessment and offer counseling sessions so that clients can better understand their experiences and their relationship to certain substances. In doing so, they work with addiction psychiatrists and other medical professionals to identify the underlying causes of their addiction and produce a more effective treatment plan.

First, addiction psychiatrists evaluate and attempt to diagnose their patients for substance abuse and attendant mental health disorders. They then assess the patient’s abilities to successfully perform the activities of daily living, including dressing, eating, and bathing. They may also have the client undergo imaging and laboratory tests.

Depending on the patient’s diagnosis, the addiction psychiatrist then creates and implements a comprehensive treatment plan. This plan often includes individualized therapy, substance abuse treatment, counseling, and if necessary, medication.

Often, the mental health professional recommends a detoxification program, or detox, to help the client safely wean themselves off a controlled substance.

Addiction psychiatrists collaborate with other medical professionals—including neurologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and the patient’s primary care doctor—to ensure their patients receive the individualized, comprehensive care that leads to recovery success.

What Types of Addictions Does Our Psychiatry Treat?

Addiction psychiatry plays a major role during detox. Detox is the first phase of addiction treatment wherein the addict is safely weaned off the addictive substance or substances.

Because addiction so profoundly affects the brain’s neurochemistry, the medical expertise (and ability to prescribe medication for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms) of an addiction psychiatrist is often necessary.

Addiction psychiatry is especially effective in treating people with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder that is complicated by a coexisting mental health disorder like depression, anxiety, trauma, or bipolar disorder. After all, substance abuse affects mental and physical health. Receiving help from an addiction psychiatrist may prevent serious and lasting mental and physical damage due to long-term substance abuse.

Benefits of Addiction Psychiatry in Tampa

Addiction psychiatry offers several key benefits in addressing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. These benefits include: