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Psychiatrist visit
psychiatrist · psychiatric consultation · mental health doctor
A doctor who helps with problems of mood, anxiety, sleep, thinking, and behavior. They can prescribe treatment and medicines.
For long-lasting low mood, severe anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, obsessive thoughts, or sudden changes in behavior.
⏱ Duration: usually 20 to 40 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Write it down. What bothers you, how it affects your life, and what questions you want to ask.
- Confidentiality. What happens at the visit is confidential. Ask the clinic how the visit is recorded.
What to bring
- Your ID
- Past test results, discharge papers, and reports
- A list of your medicines, or the packs themselves
How it goes
- The doctor calmly asks about your concerns and your life
- You are asked about mood, sleep, and thoughts
- Sometimes you fill in a questionnaire
- The doctor explains what is going on and what help is available
- If needed, treatment is prescribed and the next visit set
What you'll feel
- It is a conversation, with no procedures
- Talking about personal things can be hard. You can take pauses
Afterwards
- Take medicines as prescribed. Do not stop them on your own. Ask the doctor
- Treatment usually takes time to work
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Thoughts of harming yourself or someone else: do not wait for the visit. Call emergency services
Common questions
Will I be put on a psychiatric register?
A consultation usually does not mean that. Ask the clinic directly how it works.
How is a psychiatrist different from a psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a doctor who can diagnose and prescribe medicines. A psychologist helps through talking and does not prescribe.