The Duke Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has shaped the way mental health care is practiced today.

Our physicians and practitioners are renowned for their treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, as well as their clinical expertise in areas such as child mental health treatment and medical psychology. The high quality of Duke Medicine’s mental health practitioners and services is complemented by the superior level of care and consideration we given to each patient.

And Duke’s basic science researchers continue to learn more about the neurobiological changes that underlie many mental illnesses. And our team has developed scales that are used worldwide to diagnose depression, pediatric anxiety, social phobias and attention deficit disorders.

The department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences encompasses entities that include:

• Duke Addictions Program -- Offers an integrated, comprehensive approach to substance abuse therapy for people of all ages who are dependent upon alcohol and/or drugs, including nicotine.
• Behavioral Medicine -- Addresses stress, psychological factors in disease, and behavioral and pharmacological approaches to the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of stress-related medical disorders. 
• Pediatric Mental Health -- Provides services for children and adolescents ages three to 18 suffering from acute and chronic psychiatric, emotional, or substance abuse problems.
• Geriatric Behavioral Health -- Evaluates and treats mental disorders in the elderly, including memory and affective (mood) disorders.
• Outpatient Psychiatry and Behavioral Services -- Consults with patients suffering from conditions such as anxiety, depressive, and eating disorders, neuroses, and other mental health issues and concerns.
• Social and Community Psychiatry -- Develops and implements multidisciplinary, collaborative, community-based clinical practice, education, and research initiatives.

Clinical Care

Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences provides responsive, affordable, comprehensive care to people suffering from a broad spectrum of mental health conditions and concerns. Our clinical teams of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and substance abuse counselors provide multidisciplinary mental health services that range from brief outpatient treatments to intensive inpatient care.

The nationally recognized quality of physicians and services found at Duke are complemented by the superior level of care and consideration given to each patient. New patients coming to Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for evaluation and treatment are seen by the Centralized Evaluation Service (CES), where a team of professionals ensures that patients are referred to the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences services that best meets their individual needs.

These services include:

• General outpatient treatment
• Subspecialty outpatient programs
• Inpatient services

Our careful evaluation of each patient’s unique concerns includes financial considerations, insurance reimbursement, available benefits, and affordability, which are addressed by a team of support staff with expertise in these areas.

Integrated, Far-Reaching Programs

Because many wellness concerns have a strong mental health component, our psychiatry and behavioral health professionals work with a number of entities throughout Duke Medicine. These include:

Duke Integrative Medicine -- A personalized medicine program that promotes health and wellness by addressing the powerful relationship between the mind, body, spirit, and community.

Duke Diet & Fitness Center -- A world-renowned weight-loss center that includes a strong behavioral health component.

Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center – Offering patient care to children of all ages in a family-focused atmosphere. 

These programs, in addition to Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences’s many other settings, are located throughout the local community.

Interdisciplinary, Whole-Person Care

Although not completely understood, the connection between physical and mental illness is undeniable. For example, the greater the stress in your life, the greater your risk for developing high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome. If you have heart disease or diabetes, you’re more likely to also suffer from depression. Psychotic patients may need treatment for dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance.

We at Duke Medicine understand this critical mind-body connection, which is why our Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has one of the nation’s leading medical psychiatry teams. Because our medical psychiatrists are board certified in both internal medicine and psychiatry, they are experts at caring for the conditions ranging from post-traumatic stress and eating disorders to HIV/AIDS and chronic pain.

For more information about Duke Medicine’s mental health services, or to schedule an initial evaluation or get a clinical psychiatry referral, call 888-ASK-DUKE (888-275-3853) toll-free.