PSYCHIATRY

Crisis-afflicted patients seeking treatment in Latvia’s clinics will be able to regain a sense of peace, courage and the strength to deal with the causes of their problems, as well as to overcome them. Special attention is paid to diagnostic procedures including testing, psychiatric discussions and sometimes hormonal analyses. The diagnosis is determined based on the existing clinical picture and complete analysis of the patient’s life.

Therapy may be required in the following instances:

• Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) – chronic mental disorders characterised by obsessive thoughts or actions. OCD can manifest itself as constant doubts about performing everyday activities, a panic fear of harming one’s loved ones and an obsession with one’s personal safety. Obsessive thoughts significantly reduce the quality of life and create stress.
• Adaptation disorders – complications in response to past traumas such as the death of a loved or the end of a relationship. As a result, a person can lose faith in his abilities to function and withdraw from society. The first signs may include sleeplessness, baseless anxiety, headaches, difficulties swallowing and a feeling of helplessness.
• Depression – an abiding feeling of depression and despair. Suspicions of depression are justified if the patient experiences enduring symptoms such as a deterioration in mood, loss of interest, anxiety, pessimism, difficulty making decisions and an aversion to socialising. However, a precise diagnosis can only be made by a doctor – psychiatrist.
• Burnout syndrome – distinct and abiding fatigue, a feeling of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. Burnout occurs over a long period of time (it develops over a period of six years on average), and therefore treatment is often commenced when the syndrome has already become quite acute. During the advanced stage of the syndrome, additional symptoms appear: tachycardia, high blood pressure and chronic pain, etc.
• Panic attacks – one of the most common disorders of the psyche. The main sign is episodes of intensive anxiety that can create a feeling of fear, heart palpitations, and a feeling of sweating and suffocation. The cause is frequently unusual physical discomfort and strange feelings. In treating chronic panic attacks, patients will benefit from taking a break from their usual environment.
• Vegetative disorders – vegetative dystonia is manifested in the form of disorders of the nervous system, which create a range of physical ailments such as heart palpitations, changes in blood pressure and temperature, and perspiration. Physical symptoms are accompanied by mental discomfort– fear, weakness, episodes of anxiety and a depressive mood.
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD) – most commonly manifested in childhood, but also observed among 4% of the population during adulthood. The common complaints are carelessness, problems sticking to a schedule, impulsiveness and a tendency to engage in risky activities. This syndrome undermines the patient’s ability to maintain personal relationships and attain set goals.