Why is expert medication management for depression and other disorders so important?

Expert medication management for depression and other disorders can reverse crippling despair. With aggressive but compassionate treatment using both psychotherapy and medications, often people get better and return to being themselves. In addition, if individuals do not want medication or are not responding to it, other newer treatments like TMS are available, very effective, and well-tolerated.

Unfortunately, too often psychiatric care is provided by people with limited training and experience. In such cases, care can be suboptimal with multiple trials of ineffective medications, incorrect doses, too rapid cycling through various treatment options, polypharmacy, and, more generally, bad outcomes. Seek out an expert for psychiatric medications – at a minimum, a professional who is a physician and board-certified in psychiatry.

In psychiatry, the professional can be tested and approved by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) as an Adult Psychiatrist. This involves multiple exams and ongoing education.

The ABPN also offers additional board approvals for some sub-specialties. The ABPN sub-specialties in psychiatry are as follows:

• Addiction psychiatry: Additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of drug and alcohol use issues.
• Child and adolescent psychiatry: Training into the assessment and treatment of younger patients
• Clinical neurophysiology: The evaluation and treatment of neurological disorders, often using technical devices like EEG, EMG, and various scans.
• Consultation-liaison psychiatry: Experts in treating medically ill people who also happen to have psychiatric symptoms. Usually, this is hospital-based.
• Forensic psychiatry: Experts who interface with legal or administrative systems
• Geriatric psychiatry: Specialist training in the treatment of the elderly
• Sleep medicine: Psychiatrists that focus on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep issues.
• Pain medicine: Psychiatrists who diagnose and manage ongoing pain

Ideally, complex patients will seek out a particular specialist with advanced training in their specific issues – and the board certification to prove that. For example, a child should try to see an ABPN-certified child psychiatrist. However, such specialists are in short supply and often hard to find.

Dr. Block is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. Ideally, one would see the sub-specialist but, realistically, that physician may be unavailable and people still need a professional to help them out.
Dr. Block is comfortable working with some (1) substance abuse care, (2) older adolescents, and (3) forensics. He is also comfortable treating most (4) geriatric patients and (5) patients with sleep disorder. If one falls into one of these groups and is unable to find another expert with the ABPN specialty training and certification, you can discuss with Dr. Block if he can manage your care.

Do you accept Tricare insurance at your medication management clinic?

As a combat Veteran himself, Dr. Block and his team at Diamond Edge are proud to serve active-duty individuals and their families. We do accept Tricare insurance and are happy to help you navigate the coverage for your specific needs. Our goal is to make quality mental health care accessible and affordable for all those who need it.

Do you offer medication management services via telehealth?

Yes, we do offer telehealth appointments for medication management services. This allows our patients to receive the care they need from the comfort and safety of their own homes. That said, Dr. Block strongly prefers to see patients directly – telehealth is not the equivalent of in-person care and outcomes are worse. It is too often used for the therapist’s convenience – not the patient’s.

How can I get started with psychiatric medication management near me?

It’s easy to reach out to Dr. Block and the team at Diamond Edge. Just give us a call, or request an appointment using our online contact form.