PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES
Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners at the Evelyn Frye Center provide services for all individuals, including children, adolescents, adults, and seniors regardless of race, sex, or national origin. Members of our medical staff are all Vanderbilt graduates, and practice evidence based medicine. Each of our providers is board certified in his/her specialty.
The role of the psychiatric provider is to assess, diagnose, treat, and evaluate outcomes for a full spectrum of psychiatric disorders. The following information is designed to provide you with more information about our psychiatric services.
Assessment
A relevant health history with an emphasis on behavioral health and the presenting problem is obtained and documented.
Factors that impact behavioral health are identified.
Data from multiple sources, including, but not limited to, screening evaluations, the psychiatric interview, laboratory tests, and psychiatric rating scales is considered.
The impact of life stressors including physical illness is also assessed.
DIAGNOSIS
Available data about symptoms and history is evaluated, and a diagnosis is established. This diagnosis will be an identified psychiatric diagnosis according to the DSM IV Psychiatric Manual.
TREATMENT
Following the assessment and diagnosis of the presenting problem, the psychiatric practitioner will collaborate with you and develop an individual plan of care. This treatment plan may consist of recommendations for psychiatric medication, psychotherapy, education, or involvement in community agencies.
Complimentary therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, and hypnotherapy may also be recommended. The staff will remain available to you to maximize your potential and to minimize the occurrence of complications.
EVALUATION
Your treatment plan is flexible and designed to measure clinical and behavioral outcomes. The psychiatric practitioner will continually measure and monitor the effectiveness of your treatment plan and alter it appropriately.
Our Psychiatric Staff Are Teachers and Coaches
In addition to providing expert clinical care, our psychiatric staff will teach and coach you and your significant others about the intended effects and potential adverse effects
of treatment options.
Our goal is for you to become your own behavioral health expert! We believe that
- You are the most important member of your treatment team and
- It is essential for you to have the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about your recovery and continuing health
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will I need to meet with my psychiatric provider?
The frequency of your sessions with your psychiatric provider can vary from weekly to quarterly depending the nature of your behavioral problem, your specific treatment program, your response to the psychotropic medication prescribed and other variables.
How long will my sessions last?
Your initial session will last 45 minutes; thereafter, your follow-up sessions will typically last 15 minutes. Our business staff will make every effort to schedule appointments at convenient times and our clinical staff will make every effort to see you at your scheduled time.
What is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a physician who completed a three year residency program in psychiatry (advanced study and training) and successfully met all requirements for Board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the field of Psychiatry. Our psychiatrists prescribe medications and work with our other clinical staff to meet the needs of our patients.
What is a “Nurse Practitioner”?
A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who has met higher educational and clinical practice requirements beyond basic nursing education and licensing required of all registered nurses. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are qualified to address both the psychiatric and medical needs of patients with behavioral health problems and those who have common medical illnesses with concomitant behavioral health problems. Nurse practitioners prescribe medications and work with supervising physicians.
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