Lecture on Psychiatry and Modern Medicine

Introduction

• Psychiatry is not mystical; it's a branch of brain medicine.
• Focus on understanding processes causing distress rather than just symptoms.

Changes in Psychiatry

• Psychiatry has evolved from fitting criteria to understanding underlying processes.
• Historical reliance on DSM for classification; now shifting to brain-based understanding.
• Pharmacology in psychiatry has expanded significantly from a few molecules to over 250.

Brain-Based Understanding of Psychiatry

• Emphasis on understanding the processes beneath symptoms.
• Shift from theoretical psychological processes to underlying brain functions.
• Psychiatry is seen as a branch that integrates understanding of brain and bodily functions.

The Role of Genetics in Psychiatry

• Discussion on genetic vulnerabilities and their role in psychiatric disorders.
• Antibiotics have changed natural selection, increasing genetic vulnerabilities in populations.
• Mental illnesses are seen as genetic vulnerabilities triggered by stress.

Clinical Practice Changes

• More personalized treatment options due to a wide variety of psychiatric medications.
• Psychiatry moving away from labeling patients as treatment-resistant.
• Importance of addressing brain health for overall quality of life improvement.

New Approaches in Psychiatry

• Introduction to dysmorphology and its application in psychiatric evaluations.
• Importance of understanding facial structures and genetic markers in psychiatric assessments.

Challenges and Future Directions

• Psychiatry as a science needs skepticism and ongoing learning.
• Need for more scientific evidence and research in psychiatry, especially in India.

Modern Psychiatry and Public Perception

• Psychiatry is not separate from medicine; it is deeply linked with neurology.
• Emphasis on considering psychiatry as an emerging dominant branch of medicine.

Key Messages and Recommendations

• Be skeptical and question existing beliefs in psychiatry.
• Embrace lifelong learning and adapt to new scientific findings.
• Encourage scientific evidence and data production in psychiatry.

Conclusion

• Psychiatry is evolving with technological advancements and a deeper understanding of brain functions.
• There is a need for more awareness and acceptance of psychiatric treatments as essential to overall health.