When an emotional issue begins to interfere with everyday life, it’s time to seek help, Dr. Chandravadan Patel, a psychiatrist at Knox Community Hospital, told the Mount Vernon News.
“Anytime (an emotional issue) causes problems at work or in a relationship at home or with friends, it’s time to seek help,” Patel said.
Warning signs could be angry outbursts at home or work or not responding at all to a given situation, the physician said.
Depression is the most common emotional problem, Patel said.
“People are seeking more help now than they did before. Plus, the workplace is now acknowledging instead of ignoring emotional issues that might be interfering at work. Rather than laying them off or putting them on medical leave, they will encourage the employee to get treatment,” he said.
Patients are often referred to the hospital through the judicial system.
Insurance coverage for mental health services was expanded with passage of the Affordable Care Act, providing closer parity with physical illnesses, the physician said.
Health insurers are finding that there many “comorbidities” if mental health problems are left untreated.
“If they don’t treat the mental health part of it, they can only make so much progress in the primary illness,” he said.
Many emotional problems can be treated on an outpatient basis.
“Hospitalization nowadays is limited to cases where the person is considered a danger to himself or others,” said Patel. “The second cause is the inability to take care of their basic needs, such as people who are hallucinating or paranoid.”
There are also many more drugs available to treat emotional problems, and those drugs have fewer side effects.
“They are more likely to stay on the medicine because they don’t have side effects that affect their daily lives,” he said. “The longer they stay on it, they will notice more benefits from the medicine.”
Gone are the days when patients were placed in mental hospitals for months or even years, Patel said. “State hospitals are closing down, actually. With medication, patients are able to stay in their communities and continue with outpatient treatment.”
For more information on the psychiatric services offered by Knox Community Hospital, call 740-397-1900.
