Psychiatry in the real world

Although diagnostic and therapeutic issues are relatively settled in formal psychiatry, there is considerable confusion among the public. In the real world, there is notable misunderstanding of terminology and concepts, not only of diagnoses and treatments, but also of the titles and characteristics of mental health professionals and institutions. Moreover, the numerous and conflicting treatment models that have been proposed over time have led to the lack of a clear protocol for the treatment of even a common psychiatric case. Thus, each patient must choose his or her own treatment from among an infinite number of treatment options, provided by an infinite number of therapists, coming from various known and unknown theoretical and therapeutic fields. As a result, psychiatric patients often receive incorrect or incomplete treatments and are faced with chronicity of the disease, exploitation and poverty. Furthermore, the high mental and physical comorbidity of psychiatric cases further exacerbates this situation. We are looking for a psychiatry that will be at the center of the mental health system, having the obligation to constantly regulate the flow of cases, depending on their needs. Psychiatry is grounded in clinical neuroscience. We are looking for psychiatry that will be constantly updated and will apply the valuable knowledge of neuroscience, at a research, diagnostic and therapeutic level. Also, psychiatry that will refer and collaborate closely with other medical specialties, as well as with non-medical accredited mental health professionals. In parallel, psychiatry must envision, plan and supervise the development of scientifically based psychosocial rehabilitation programs. Finally, the stakeholders involved should promote the view of a medico-social approach to mental disorders, centered on formal diagnosis and treatment by professionals, with the aim of providing safe, continuous and complete care for patients.