Before talking about the different types of psychiatric clinics, I think it's important to introduce the idea that psychiatric clinics are a relatively recent medical model of care.
In a previous post, I spoke about Freud's work and how it built a foundation for later techniques that use structured conversation to treat mental health needs. Freud's work began in the 1890s and led to modern psychotherapy.
Similarly, one could argue that the idea of prescribing medications to manage mental health diagnoses only began in the late 1940s, when lithium carbonate was discovered to function as an effective mood stabilizer in 1948. This discovery prompted an increased need for physicians who wanted to help those with mental illnesses, but who were also familiar with medical examinations, laboratory testing, and the appropriate management of prescription medications. This medical specialty grew into modern psychiatry.
So the development of modern psychiatric clinics can be more easily understood in this light.
Early 20th century providers who wanted to help those with mental illness had to rely largely on contemporary psychotherapy approaches. After 1950 and the advent of effective psychiatric medications, medication management was increasingly used as a model for managing psychiatric illness. Now, in the 2020s, there are a variety of psychotherapy approaches available and a variety of physicians who participate in mental health care.
As a result, there are psychiatric clinics that cover a spectrum of models. Some focus largely on psychotherapy. Others focus mostly on medication management. Many are trying to find a mix of services that reflect their patients' needs and that their infrastructure can support.
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