Neuropsychiatry

Neuropsychiatry focuses on the compassionate care of patients living with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral complications due to neurological disorders.

At UT Southwestern Medical Center, our neuropsychiatry team provides evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for those diagnosed with epilepsy, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and other complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

Multispecialty Care for Disorders at the Interface of Neurology and Psychiatry

Neuropsychiatry utilizes both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in the treatment of people experiencing psychiatric symptoms due to a brain disorder.

At UT Southwestern, we take a biopsychosocial approach to each person, integrating neurobiology along with psychology and socio-environmental factors in our goal to provide holistic and empathic care.

Our team includes a neuropsychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a psychologist, and a clinical social work therapist. Additionally, we often collaborate with other clinical neuroscience disciplines such as neuropsychology, neuroradiology, cognitive neurology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy.

With specialized training and experience in neuropsychiatry, we offer a level of expertise available in only a few programs anywhere.

Our program offers several types of psychotherapy and medications for treatment. We also provide education for patients and their families to help them understand the prevailing neurological problem and how it affects mental health. Our team closely collaborates with patients and their families to provide personalized care tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

Neuropsychiatry Services and Treatments

Our comprehensive approach begins with a thorough evaluation, including:

• Review of personal and family medical history
• Discussion of symptoms and previous treatments
• Observations from family members or caregivers
• Cognitive screening
• Mental status exam to assess thinking, social functioning, and mood
• Focused neurological exam

We then formulate a plan for each patient’s individual needs. Our treatments and services include:

• Medications to, when indicated, target depression, anxiety, psychosis, insomnia, difficulty with thinking and memory, and other symptoms
• Individual psychotherapy (counseling), such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to develop coping skills, emotional regulation, and healthy beliefs and behaviors
• Patient and family education to help all who are involved understand the condition, its symptoms, and how treatments can help
• Family counseling to build a support system for the patient
• Support groups for patients and families to share experiences