Medications and psychotherapy are common treatments prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder. Although for some patients, the first prescribed intervention is successful in relieving symptoms, complete relief of symptoms occurs less than 50% of the time on a single anti-depressant. In addition, some patients are misdiagnosed, which often leads to unsuccessful treatment recommendations.
Despite our growing knowledge base in psychiatry, some patients do not fully recover from their illness even when appropriate treatments are prescribed. Psychiatric problems can be complex and there are often complicated interactions between a patient’s genetic predisposition to illness, environmental stressors, long standing patterns of thinking and emotional regulation, medical issues and available support networks. The University of Colorado Depression Center offers comprehensive consultations to look at these complex issues and to re-evaluate a patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan to re-examine a course of treatment and positively impact outcomes.
Who can benefit from our evaluations or second opinions?
Most patients with psychiatric symptoms usually first present to a primary care physician. However, in the case of more severe depression, bipolar disorder, or mood disorders complicated by other factors, evaluation by a psychiatrist is often needed. Research studies have shown that most patients with depression do not receive adequate treatment even when under the care of physician. Other studies show that patients with bipolar disorder often go through a ten year period of treatment by a physician before appropriately diagnosed.
In addition, patients may have complex problems that are not responding to treatment, even when being treated by a psychiatrist or mental health professional. In these situations, a re-evaluation of the initial diagnosis and past treatments may shed a fresh light resulting in possible new recommendations regarding medications or psychotherapy.
Our treatment staff at the University of Colorado Depression Center provides comprehensive evaluations that include the patient completing an extensive questionnaire, the use of standardized rating scales, a review of past records, a 90 minute interview with the patient and, when appropriate, family members. Our hope is that we may provide constructive, innovative treatment recommendations that may helpful in changing the course of treatment. Consultations or a second opinions may be considered whenever treatment is not providing the results that are hoped for.
For further information, please contact the Depression Center at 303-724-3300.