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The Center for Interventional Psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital specializes in conditions that do not respond to traditional treatments.
For some, standard treatments have not improved the patient's symptoms.
Some patients are unable to take the medications they need because of side-effects, or may also refuse to take the medication that is prescribed.
In many cases, a treatment such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may offer a quicker alternative approach of relief from severe symptoms of certain psychiatric disorders.
The Center for Interventional Psychiatry cares for patients who have already received a diagnosis, and for those who are being diagnosed for the first time. We specialize in treating these conditions:
The symptoms of depression in most people may include:
Severe or persistent depression is typically treated with antidepressant medication and counseling with a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. If a major depressive disorder does not improve, becomes worse, or does not respond with these treatments, you may be experiencing hard-to-treat depression.
Catatonia is a syndrome or state that can result from either psychiatric or medical disorders. A person in this state may be:
This condition is especially dangerous because the person affected can be dehydrated, malnourished, or develop pressure sores from staying in the same position.
Mania, or being in an extremely excitable or agitated state, is usually found in bipolar disorder.
Mania is often treated with medicines. However, some patients may not be able to take the medicines or do not respond to medicine. This makes their mania hard-to-treat.
Schizophrenia is a chronic condition that has no cure and will usually need lifelong treatment.
Some symptoms of Schizophrenia include:
Typical treatment for schizophrenia is a combination of medication and specialized programs that may help with interacting socially and coping with daily life. Patients who do not respond well to these treatments, or whose symptoms are severe, may have hard-to-treat schizophrenia.
This is a rare condition that can occur as a reaction to treatment of certain medications which are often used to treat psychiatric disorders or can happen in response to discontinuing other medications abruptly.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome can be very serious, even life-threatening, and should be treated as a medical emergency.
The symptoms are mainly caused by the autonomic nerve system, and can include:
OCD is a serious neuropsychiatric disorder featured by severe obsessions (recurrent, unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive irrational behaviors that interfere with daily living). Treatment often includes a combination of high dose antidepressants — such as Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine, Clomipramine — and psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy). Unfortunately, some patients do not respond well to these standard treatments and would need DBS to provide them with some relief.
