In recognition of World Brain Day, St. George’s University (SGU), School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, highlights the field of neuropsychiatry and the different specialties available within this innovative medical branch.
Advances in technology have paved the way for new possibilities when it comes to investigating brain function in a living human. Neuropsychiatry is an integrative medical specialty that combines elements of psychiatry, neurology, and neuropsychology with a focus on the relationship between brain and behaviour.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and regional health authorities have all emphasized the urgent need to expand mental health services and train more specialists to address the growing crisis of mental health disorders. Enhanced access to neuropsychiatrists and improved mental health infrastructure are essential to meet the escalating demand for mental health care in the region.
How is neuropsychiatry defined?
Consider this neuropsychiatry definition according to the International Neuropsychiatric Association: “A field of scientific medicine that concerns itself with the complex relationship between human behaviour and brain function, and endeavours to understand abnormal behaviour and behavioural disorders on the basis of an interaction of neurobiological and psychological-social factors.”
In simpler terms, neuropsychiatry aims to bridge the gap between neurology and psychiatry when it comes to both the evaluation and treatment of disorders related to the brain and nervous systems. Neuropsychiatrists view the brain as the organ from which all behaviour emerges. Their primary goal is to increase knowledge and understanding of brain-behaviour relationships and expand therapeutic interventions.
What does a neuropsychiatrist do?
These specialists provide evaluation and treatment for emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and perceptual difficulties within the context of neurologic illness. Neuropsychiatric conditions include cognitive disturbances and psychiatric symptoms such as movement disorders, seizure disorders, traumatic brain injury, substance induced disorders, and cerebrovascular disease.
Not all patients who are referred to a neuropsychiatrist will have already received a diagnosis, however. In such cases, physicians can also help determine the underlying cause of worrisome symptoms by completing a neuropsychiatric evaluation. This can involve performing neurological exams; studying a patient’s motor functions, coordination, reflexes, cranial nerves, and posture; and interviewing the patient to determine their cognitive status.
Possible symptoms that may lead a patient to seek a neuropsychiatric evaluation include depression, mania, challenges related to focusing and learning, insomnia or other sleep disorders, and interpersonal difficulties such as unpredictable moods and behaviours.
The key component of a neuropsychiatric disorder is that the symptoms tend to impact brain function, emotion, and mood. Causes can range from a genetic predisposition to traumatic brain injuries, infections, medication side effects, or even environmental factors.
Just as there are many causes of neuropsychiatric disorders, there are various types of treatment neuropsychiatrists may prescribe. Medication regimens, psychological counselling, and/or psychiatric therapy are all common. Specific treatment plans are determined based on the precise cause, clinical presentation, and severity of the neuropsychiatric disorder.
Regardless of treatment methods, neuropsychiatrists always aim to help patients and their families better understand and deal with the psychological effects of their disorders.
Make an impact as a neuropsychiatrist
Doctors who specialize in neuropsychiatry help us better understand the neurological underpinnings of psychiatric and neurologic disorders so that patients can receive higher-quality, more effective treatment.
Many aspiring medical students may feel called to pursue this subspecialty. Completing the medical training needed to become a neuropsychiatrist can be extensive, but the life-changing work you’ll be able to do as a licensed and board-certified physician can make it all worth it.
