Psychiatry – Specialty Services

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders include disorders that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioral disturbances. Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future threat.

Bipolar and Related Disorders

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

There are four basic types of bipolar disorder; all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.

Depressive Disorders

Depressive disorders are characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and worthlessness and a lack of desire to engage in formerly pleasurable activities. Depression is not a passing blue mood, which almost everyone experiences from time to time, but a complex mind/body illness that interferes with everyday functioning. It not only darkens one’s outlook, it is commonly marked by sleep problems and changes in energy levels and appetite.

Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are illnesses in which the people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. People with eating disorders typically become pre-occupied with food and their body weight.

Geriatrics

This is a branch of psychiatry that deals with the care and mental health of the elderly.

Neuropsychological Services (Including Adult ADHD)

This service provides comprehensive neurocognitive testing for adults (18+). Specialized areas of practice include: traumatic brain injuries, recent or remote; post-concussion cognitive complaints; cognitive sequelae from neurological conditions (MS, Parkinson’s, etc.); sports-related injuries; age-related cognitive decline, mild or major neurocognitive loss; cognitive capacity issues; and adult ADHD evaluations to support the diagnosis, and for possible ADA accommodations.

Psychological Testing

Psychological testing is the administration of psychological tests, which are designed to be “an objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior”. Psychological testing may be needed and can be done for a variety of reasons.

Schizophrenic Spectrum and other Psychotic Disorders

These categories refer to symptoms that are typical of a schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder (e.g. delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, catatonic behavior), that cause substantial social and occupational distress and impairment.

Spravato Clinic

SPRAVATO™ (esketamine) CIII Nasal Spray is indicated, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression in adults.

Treatment of Refractory Depression

A failure to demonstrate an “adequate” response to an “adequate” treatment trial (i.e., sufficient intensity of treatment for sufficient duration).

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

This nondrug treatment is FDA-cleared for the treatment of depression in patients who have not benefited from antidepressant medication. ECU Physicians Psychiatry Outpatient Center is pleased to be among the first in our area to offer this proven and safe treatment.

TMS Therapy works by delivering highly focused MRI-strength magnetic pulses to an area of the brain thought to be associated with mood. Patient receive daily outpatient care in our office for four to six weeks. Each treatment lasts approximately 37 minutes with patients awake and alert and able to resume normal activities immediately after treatment.

  • FDA-cleared for patients who have not benefited from antidepressant medication.
  • Proven, safe, effective therapy that is conducted in the office.
  • Free from side effects often associated with antidepressant medication.
  • One in two patients improve significantly.
  • One in three patients are free from depression symptoms.

How Does TMS Work?

  • Magnetic pulses target key areas of the brain.
  • Technology is similar to that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Each in-office treatment last 37 minutes.
  • Patients receive therapy five days a week, for four to six weeks.
  • During treatment, patients are awake and alert; they can go back to their normal activities immediately afterward.

Trauma and Stress

Adjustment Disorders
These are a group of symptoms, such as stress, feeling sad or hopeless, and physical symptoms that can occur after you go through a stressful life event. The symptoms occur because you are having a hard time coping. Your reaction is stronger than expected for the type of event that occurred.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.

People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch.

Reactive Attachment Disorders
This is a severe and relatively uncommon disorder that can affect children. Reactive Attachment Disorder is characterized by markedly disturbed and developmentally inappropriate ways of relating socially in most contexts.

Sexual Disfunction

Comprehensive psychological assessment and treatment of a variety of sexual and relationship problems. Common topics discussed included low desire, pain during sexual intercourse, fear of intimacy, impact of health conditions on relationships, problems with experiencing pleasure, and anxiety about sexual performance.

Sleep/Wake Disorders

The Sleep/Wake Disorders Clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for diverse sleep disorders and offers full of range treatment options using patient centered approach by a board-certified sleep specialist. We offer evaluation, diagnosis and management of all sleep/wake disorders including:

  • Insomnia
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
  • Narcolepsy
  • Snoring
  • Sleep apnea
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Sleep Terrors and Sleep Walking
  • Nightmares

We offer evidence-based treatment modalities including:

  • Medication management
  • Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
  • Positive Airway pressure Therapy for sleep apnea

Sleep/wake disorders specialty clinic is located in the ECU Psychiatry Outpatient Building at 905 John Hopkins Drive.

For scheduling an appointment with a Sleep Specialist call (252) 744–1406.