The Washington University physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital focus on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of all aspects of mental disorders, including:
- depression and other mood disorders
- anxiety disorders
- personality disorders
- schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
- delirium
- dementia and other cognitive disorders
- Tourette syndrome
- tic and other movement disorders
- substance abuse disorders
- attention deficit disorder (ADD)
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- other disruptive disorders
- obsessive compulsive disorders
- eating disorders
- disorders relating to other illnesses
Treatment
- Biofeedback Therapy
- Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing
- Family and Marital Therapy
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is the induction of a brief convulsion by passing an electric current through the brain for the treatment of affective disorders.
Patients selected to undergo ECT are carefully screened. Electroconvulsive therapy is typically used for patients who have had minimal or no improvement following medication or psychotherapy. ECT can benefit patients with severe depression, mania and schizophrenia. Patients will typically undergo six to 12 treatments that are administered two or three times each week. Continuous monitoring of each patient during ECT allows the medical team to maximize benefits while minimizing side effects such as temporary cognitive dysfunction.
The clinicians also provide a program in pain management in coordination with the Pain Management Center, as well as psychological evaluation services for patients who are transplant candidates at Barnes -Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine.
Physicians
Clinical services are provided by a broad range of board certified and licensed professionals who treat adults and children. Many of these clinicians hold further certification in addiction psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry or forensic psychiatry.
The staff also includes clinical psychologists whose practice primarily concerns adults. Licensed clinical social workers have specialty training in family and marital therapy. A clinical nurse specialist in mental health works with adults.
Research
The Department of Psychiatry at Washington University is renowned for its internationally recognized research program that studies the brain and sources of mental illness. The long and distinguished history of research in basic mechanisms of central nervous system function, neurobiology, epidemiology, genetically-determined behaviors and psychiatric disorders benefits patients because the clinicians apply the most up-to-date research findings in their clinical practice.
For an appointment with a Washington University mental health professional call 314-286-1700.