Specialists psychiatrist.

Specialists of the Lesser Poland Psychotherapy Center Synapsa in Krakow believe that in every area of medicine, the doctor-patient relationship plays a key role in healing the patient. Numerous studies show that there is a relationship between the quality of the relationship between the doctor and the patient and the effectiveness of treatment. A bond based on trust and mutual respect reduces tension, provides a state of peace, which positively affects the reduction of stress levels; the body in a calm state produces much less stress hormones, forcing the body to fight, at the expense of brain and body tissue damage.

The doctor-patient bond is particularly important in the case of mental disorders. A good relationship between the psychiatrist and the patient is an absolute basis for effective treatment, because psychotherapy is based primarily on a deep relationship that enables a valuable analysis of the patient’s needs. The specialists of the Lesser Poland Synapsa Psychotherapy Center in Krakow set a good therapist-patient relationship as their overriding goal.

What medications does a psychiatrist prescribe?

Very often, psychiatric treatment is not limited to psychotherapy or pharmacology. In most disorders, the most effective treatment is a combination of different therapeutic methods. A psychiatrist in Krakow has an individual approach to the patient: depending on the disorder and how the person experiences the disease, the doctor is able to choose the appropriate treatment in a given case.

In some situations, it is necessary to use psychotropic drugs. Here are the most commonly assigned drug groups:

• Antidepressants.
  Developed to treat depression, antidepressants are also commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, including panic. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and were originally thought to work by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, but it has never been clear how changing levels of the neurotransmitter results in symptom relief. The prototype of this drug is Prozac.
• Anxiolytics.
  Used to treat anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Anxiolytics are designed to calm the nervous system. Popular drugs in this group are sedatives such as Xanax and Klonopin. In fact, Xanax is the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drug of all, surpassing any of the SSRIs. Nevertheless, SSRI antidepressants are among the drugs most commonly prescribed long-term for anxiety, a condition that shares many characteristics with depression. Typically, SSRIs are prescribed in higher doses for anxiety than for depression.
• Mood stabilizing drugs.Mood stabilizers – lithium being the classic drug – are commonly prescribed to prevent mood swings in bipolar disorder. They are also sometimes used together with antidepressants to treat depression.
• Antipsychotics.
  Antipsychotics clear thinking and are typically used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. They are also increasingly being used to treat bipolar disorder or used with antidepressants to treat depression.
• Stimulants.
  Stimulants are usually prescribed – paradoxically – to treat ADHD (along with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes). The most commonly used drugs are the amphetamine nervous system stimulant Adderal and the synthetic nervous system stimulant Ritalin. Stimulants work by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which increases motivation and attention.

Why can psychotherapy be more effective than medication?

Very often the results from drug treatment are more obvious. Nevertheless, research shows that psychotherapy causes permanent changes in the structure of the brain, especially in areas involved in the control of thoughts and memories. Therapy can strengthen the connections between different areas of the brain, thus improving the processes of thinking, problem solving, designing effective strategies for dealing with anxiety, stress or a traumatic event. Psychodynamic therapy in Krakow contributes to the restoration of the sense of control over one’s own life: after therapy, the patient is able to suppress negative signals, thus being less susceptible to burdensome conditions. Therefore, the results of psychotherapy treatment require more time and effort, but provide more lasting results after the end of treatment.

Despite having qualifications to conduct therapy, psychiatrists more and more often resign from this method of treatment. For this purpose, they cooperate with psychologists and psychotherapists. The Synapsa Lesser Poland Psychotherapy Center employs specialists conducting psychodynamic therapy, taking into account the systemic perspective. At the same time, each therapist has a slightly different approach to the patient, puts emphasis on different aspects of treatment. Thanks to this, every person in need of help can find a therapist in Krakow, according to their needs.

Psychodynamic therapy.

Psychodynamic therapy comes from the psychoanalytic tradition, emphasizing introspection to get to the roots of emotional suffering. Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, the therapist is usually an active guide in discussions. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a good choice for patients who want to explore their past experiences and their impact on current patterns of behavior.

Piotr Wereszczyński, psychologist and psychotherapist

He works therapeutically in the psychodynamic paradigm. He specializes in individual psychotherapy for people with neurotic problems and depressive personality disorders.

Lesser Poland Psychotherapy Center SYNAPSA Krakow