Functional and Whole-Person Psychiatry

Mental health is shaped not only by mental and emotional processes but also, directly, by the complex biochemical balance of the body. In a whole-person, functional approach to psychiatry, sleep patterns and active physical movement matter, and so do critical biochemical values such as thyroid hormones, B12, vitamin D, folate, iron, zinc and magnesium: they are the building blocks for the synthesis of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and for the steady work of the nervous system. A deficiency or imbalance at the cellular level can surface as psychological symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and mood swings. Routine blood tests therefore matter a great deal, both to identify the physiological causes that may underlie your symptoms and to understand the root cause at the cellular level, so that the treatment plan can be built around you.