"As a psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience, I've witnessed firsthand the evolution of mental health care. When I first started practicing, the approach to treating depression and other mental health issues was pretty straightforward: diagnose based on symptoms and prescribe medication. This one-size-fits-all model was helpful for some. But it left many patients struggling, without significant relief-and without any real answers about what to do next. That's because this conventional model of symptom-based treatment is incomplete."
"Think about it. If you went to your primary care doctor with a persistent cough, you'd expect them to not simply treat your symptom with cough medicine, but to investigate, determine, and address the cause of your cough. To first test and then treat. Maybe the cough is caused by an upper respiratory tract infection. Maybe by heartburn. Maybe by allergies."
Historically, treatment for depression relied on symptom-based diagnosis and medication. A one-size-fits-all model helped some patients but left many without significant relief or clear next steps. In physical medicine, clinicians investigate causes before treating symptoms, using tests to guide therapy. Mental disorders deserve the same causal investigation. Functional psychiatry seeks and addresses root causes of mental health issues through individualized assessment and targeted interventions. Functional psychiatrists gather clinical clues to identify biological, environmental, or lifestyle contributors. For thousands of patients, functional approaches have provided real and lasting relief and shift care toward personalized, cause-focused treatment.
Read at Psychology Today
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