The most qualified type of professional to treat mental illnesses is a psychiatrist. This professional is an MD who can prescribe medication and provide the highest level of mental health care with services like psychotherapy. Generally, a psychiatrist is board-certified.

You can see a psychologist about some mental health issues, but this professional has only a Ph.D. or PsyD degree and isn’t able to provide prescriptions for conditions like bipolar disorder, psychosis, or schizophrenia which often require medication. Also, the therapy a psychologist practice tends to focus on just behavior, whereas the therapy a psychiatrist practices focuses on behavior, biology, neurochemistry, psychosocial history, and more. This means a psychiatrist is able to provide more comprehensive care for mental health illnesses.

It’s commonly said that there are 5 major categories of psychiatric disorders. These are:

• Anxiety disorders – Bouts of fear about things like public speaking, job interviews, etc., or just general anxiety about everyday things (Examples are panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others)
• Mood disorders – Sustained and severe feelings of sadness, irritability, etc. (Depression, bipolar disorder, and others)
• Dementia – A disruption of consciousness and changes in cognitive health (Alzheimer’s disease, substance-induced dementia, and others)
• Eating disorders – Chronic and possibly life-threatening conditions that involve distressing/obsessive thoughts and behaviors about food/self-image (Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and others)
• Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders – Significant changes and disruptions in cognitive and emotional function

These disorders may need to be treated professionally. With eating disorders, professional treatment may be vital. And even with anxiety, professional treatment may be necessary.

There is research that suggests anxiety in different cases has similar causes. An example is people with anxiety generally being easily overwhelmed by emotion and having a very negative reaction to the feeling. A psychiatrist knows how to help patients cope more effectively and healthily. Some medications may help some patients too, but generally, the best initial treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This form of therapy is actually proven to work. A patient of cognitive-behavioral therapy will learn to identify and manage the thoughts, processes, and behaviors that lead to anxiety. In some cases of anxiety, group psychotherapy can help or be complementary to other treatments.

Yes, we do! Success Health System LLC has Dr. Moses Tabe Ambilichu MD, a fully capable psychiatrist with the U.S. medical licenses needed for mental disorder diagnosis and treatment. The doctor is right here at Success Health System LLC in Creve Coeur MO, St. Louis MO, Independence MO, Columbia MO, and Olathe KS.

Call us to learn more about us, or if you have a referral to see us, go ahead and book a simple consultation with the doctor. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for better long-term mental health. We serve patients from Creve Coeur MO, St. Louis MO, Independence MO, Olathe KS, Columbia MO, Craig KS, Spring Hill KS, Prathersville MO, Pierpont MO, Kirkwood MO, Kansas City MO, River Bend Mo & Beyond!

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you soon here at Success Health System LLC!