Medical Psychiatric Conditions

There are many medical disorders that can cause psychiatric problems. And some psychiatric disorders present with physical symptoms. Expert care is required to diagnose and treat "co-morbid" medical and psychiatric illness.

Certain medical conditions may cause psychiatric disorders like depression, and anxiety or complicate the health status of an individual undergoing psychiatric treatment. These conditions include:

• Endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism and other hormone imbalances)
• Seizures/Epileptic fits
• Brain tumours and other central nervous system (CNS) conditions
• Anaemia and other blood disorders
• Kidney disease
• Cirrhosis and other liver diseases
• Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and infections
• Lupus and other rheumatological disorders

These medical and neurological conditions often need to be diagnosed and treated to ensure safe, effective psychiatric care. This is important because the medical or neurological condition may be the main cause of the psychiatric symptoms. Unrecognized and untreated medical problems may slow or even prevent progress in psychiatric treatment. 

My practice of psychiatry is based in an understanding of these possibilities. In all of my clinical work, I am committed to ensuring careful consideration of medical/neurological factors and referrals to other specialists when appropriate.