An addiction psychiatrist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse and the mental health conditions that accompany it. Addiction psychiatrists treat people of all ages who have addictions to illegal drugs, alcohol, and prescription medications complicated by coexisting mental health disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.
An addiction psychiatrist typically:
-
Evaluates a patient’s medical history, history of substances the patient is using or has used, and mental health status
-
Diagnoses psychiatric diseases and conditions including substance addiction, depression, dementia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, sleep disorders, and eating disorder
-
Assesses a person’s ability to perform everyday living activities, such as eating, dressing and driving
-
Orders and interprets laboratory and imaging tests
-
Provides comprehensive substance abuse treatment and addiction therapy, such as talk therapy. In some cases, the doctor will refer patients to a dedicated addiction therapist for more frequent counseling sessions.
-
Prescribes medications, helps manage their usage, determines if the medication is working, and monitors side effects
-
Provides detoxification treatment to safely wean patients off the substances
-
Consults with other members of a patient’s medical team including primary care doctors, neurologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, home healthcare nurses, and occupational therapists
- Conducts involuntary commitment and psychiatric treatment when necessary
Addiction psychiatrists may also be known by the following names: addictionologist, addiction doctor, and substance abuse doctor.
There are 17 specialists practicing Addiction Psychiatry in San Francisco, CA with an overall average rating of 3.3 stars. There are 4 hospitals near San Francisco, CA with affiliated Addiction Psychiatry specialists, including Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital, MarinHealth Medical Center and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital.