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Correct diagnosis is especially important in psychiatric practice, because it drives all subsequent treatment decisions, and because of the stigma  involved with inappropriate “labeling.” At ABM, a comprehensive evaluation includes thorough medical record review, clinical interviews, psychometric rating scales and targeted psychological tests, and specific biopsychosocial  treatment recommendations. At times, lab work or brain imaging techniques such as MRI or quantitative EEG may also be utilized in the evaluation process.

Our team employs the bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to the diagnosis and treatment of those suffering from psychiatric problems.  In short, medication alone is rarely the proper means of treatment, especially in children and adolescents. The bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach calls for the clinician to also consider social, psychological, and spiritual factors as potentially contributing to or causing mental illness and to consider social, academic, psychotherapeutic, and/or spiritual interventions as part of a comprehensive, multi-modal treatment plan. The judicious use of medication in children often has its place as a vital adjunct to other treatments, but the decision for a child to take psychotropic medication should be made only after a thorough discussion with their doctor about the risks, benefits, possible side-effects, and alternatives. We  strive to educate patients that there are often known risks to not  treating mental illness as well.