Dr Michelle Vlok-Barnard recognises the complexity involved in many emotional and mental health issues. Psychological factors shape the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us. In a much as counselling is helpful in mental health support, medication is often necessary for a full recovery. Psychiatrists are trained in the assessment and medication management of a wide variety of behavioural health conditions. This is why other mental health practitioners such as psychologists refer patients to a psychiatrist for prescription medication.

In your first consultation, Dr Vlok-Barnard will take into account and assess your medication history, allergies, medical issues and your current symptoms. Along with this, the length and severity of the symptoms, your family history, and other questions are considered to develop a full understanding of how the problems affect you.

This includes an understanding of:

  • Protein binding: How available the medication is to the body.
  • Half-life: How long the medication stays in the body.
  • Polymorphic genes: Genes which vary widely from person to person.
  • Drug-to-drug interactions: How medications affect one another.

Dr Michelle Vlok-Barnard recognises the value of using psychiatric medication to treat a range of mental health problems when these problems pose a significant risk to healthy functioning. She works closely with both the patients and their respective loved ones when making decisions on the best medical treatment.

Her recommendations on psychotropics agents are based on the latest, sound scientific evidence, in conjunction with personal experience. When creating the right treatment for you, she carefully considers side-effect profiles, various drug interactions, your family medical history and individual patient factors involved in the treatment choices.

Despite the importance of medical drugs in mental health treatment, Dr Michelle Vlok-Barnard does not pressure her patients into adding unnecessary prescription medication to their treatment. If it is not essential to your recovery, then it is not a necessity for you.