Juan Fernando González G.

Mental disorders have become very notorious in recent decades, since they affect people's quality of life and prevent them from exploiting their potential. According to qualified studies, 17% of Mexicans have at least one mental disorder, and one in four will suffer from it at least once in their life. Currently, of those affected, only one in five receives treatment.

 Beyond the stigmas and social prejudices associated with psychological and psychiatric care, it is very useful to understand the field of action of these specialists. In principle, it must be said that the most significant difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist are the studies carried out; the first has a higher level academic preparation that allows him to discern about human behavior, while the psychiatrist has university studies in medicine and a specialization in psychiatric disorders; its focus is generally medical and focuses much of its importance on the organic aspects of mental disorders. 

 Thus, the psychologist performs an evaluation and offers therapeutic advice so that the patient can modify his behavior in the face of a situation that causes him some type of specific conflict. We are talking, for example, of people who cannot find a way to resolve extremely shy behaviors, who cannot handle the frustration generated by a poorly paid job or who are afraid of having witnessed a violent act, among many other cases. 

For it´s part, the psychiatrist focuses treatment on the use of pharmacology by prescribing drugs, so that the patient overcomes the symptoms produced by a dysfunction of the central nervous system. Many psychiatrists include, in addition to drug treatment, some type of psychotherapy.

Important details
Psychologists can help overcome moderate episodes of depression, anger, anxiety or anger, but if this type of disorder has chronic characteristics, it is advisable to seek the support of a psychiatrist, on the understanding that there could be an organic cause that determines the behavior anomalous of an individual.

A psychologist, regardless of the therapeutic method used (existential, cognitive behavioral, Gestalt, psychoanalytic, among others) can be of great help to overcome a post-traumatic disorder (suffering an assault or a car accident) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (concerned excessively for rules, order and cleanliness). In the same way, these types of specialists are trained to attend to individuals who have suffered sexual abuse, to those who are recognized as emotional dependents or codependents, or to people who suffer from insomnia or some other sleep disorder. Their field of action is very broad, in such a way that it is not uncommon for them to be asked to act as mediators to resolve a family dispute, a divorce or a situation of domestic violence. 

Psychiatrists and the central nervous system 
Psychiatrists are professionals who study medicine, first, and then study the specialty. In this way, they are able to understand in a broader way the interaction of the central nervous system with the other organs of the human body. 

In general, a psychiatrist examines brain dysfunction that generates depressive, violent, psychotic or schizophrenic attitudes in a person. It is common that, once a diagnosis has been made, they proceed to prescribe the necessary medication to restore the patient's well-being and place it in a position that allows them to discern between the "normal and the abnormal", between the "good and the bad" that mark the general rules of a society. 

The psychiatrist, in addition to pharmacology, has other therapeutic options at hand: different forms of psychotherapy and even brain stimulation techniques, as well as group therapy and even unconventional methods.  

In this regard, it is worth mentioning the experience of the Mexican artist Yanihe Adriana Retuerta, who for 10 years discovered that painting was a magnificent way to face bipolar disorder and "feel relief in the heart, soul and spirit." Retuerta reflects on her illness and says: “regardless of whether what I'm doing is art, it is still a wonderful therapy. I recommend it for people with bipolar disorder, attention deficit or some kind of mental illness. People who have this type of disease should know that there are other alternatives, such as singing or playing an instrument, without leaving their medical treatment. I paint what I think, feel and dream, but art is extensive and one must use it and not allow oneself to be eaten away by illness ”, he advised. 

Homeopathy, a real option 
If you receive psychological or psychiatric care, the truth is that Homeopathy could be a perfect complement since, as is known, the medications of this clinical method act on an emotional, mental and physical level. 

Contrary to what one might think, there is specific research that demonstrates the efficacy of Homeopathy when compared to conventional medications. 

An interesting case is that of the work carried out in the Homeopathy and Depression office of the Jundiaí School of Medicine (São Paulo, Brazil), in which 91 patients who met diagnostic criteria for depression participated. 

The volunteers were randomly given individualized homeopathic treatment or the conventional antidepressant Fluoxetine for eight weeks. 

The patients and the treating physicians did not know who received one or the other treatment. This methodology, very common in medicine, prevents any kind of influence on the results.

Both groups had a similar level of depression at the beginning of the study and showed a significant improvement in depression at 4 and 8 weeks. The percentage of patients who responded to fluoxetine and homeopathic treatment was similar (63.9 and 65.8% respectively, at 4 weeks; and 84.6 and 82.8% respectively, at 8 weeks). 

Of the patients who received Fluoxetine, 21.4% reported adverse effects, compared with 10.7% of those who received homeopathic medications. The authors' conclusion is that homeopathy was not inferior to fluoxetine in the treatment of depression. 

References
 ·         www.consejomexicanopsiquiatria.org.mx.
 https://consejomexicanopsiquiatria.org.mx/
 ·         www.eleconomista.com.mx
 https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/arteseideas/Mexico-es-deficitario-en-cuidar-la-salud-mental-20190409-0163.html.
 ·         www.animalpolitico.com.
 https://www.animalpolitico.com/2018/07/depresion-2020-discapacidad-mexico/
 ·         www.20minutos.com.mx. https://www.20minutos.com.mx/noticia/332071/0/recomienda-artista-la-pintura-como-terapia-para-el-transtorno-bipolar/
 ·         www.consultotioeisayaga.com.
 https://consultorioeizayaga.com/2012/10/13/homeopatia-y-depresion-un-estudio-publicado-compara-el-tratamiento-homeopatico-con-el-tratamiento-convencional-y-muestra-resultado-similar-para-ambos/