In support of its academic mission within the Neuroscience COE, the Department has organized into four (4) clinical programs:

• Child and Adolescent Program
• Geropsychiatry Program

• Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders Program
• Health Behavior Program

Child and Adolescent (C&A) Program

The Child and Adolescent Program treats children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems and developmental disorders. Specialists accept referrals for difficult-to-diagnose or difficult-to-treat mental health illnesses. Diagnoses include depression, attention deficit disorder, eating disorders, autism and Asperger's Syndrome, early schizophrenia, early bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and disruptive behavior disorder.

Family involvement is not only encouraged, but considered essential in the treatment of children and adolescents. The treatment program integrates family participation through family counseling and therapy, parenting classes, and family education.

MCG offers East Georgia's only inpatient Child/Adolescent unit for crisis stabilization, and receives referrals from across the state.

Geropsychiatry (GP) Program

Focusing on the issues of older adults, the geriatric program is lead by a specialized geriatric psychiatrist knowledgeable of the complex treatment needs of the elderly. The program provides inpatient treatment for management of a chronic mental illness, diagnosis and treatment of a sudden-onset mental illness that may be caused or exacerbated by medications or a medical condition, and assessment and treatment of a behavior or mood disturbance brought on by late life issues such as loss of a spouse, declining health, or change in living situation. As part of the NeuroScience Center of Excellence, the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology offer the latest treatment advances in the management and prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

MCG offers East Georgia's only dedicated Geriatric Inpatient Psychiatric Unit with specialized programming and staff to offer crisis stabilization for the Geriatric Patient.

Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders (SAM) Program

The Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders Program, or SAM specializes in treating the most severe and debilitating forms of mental illness. Clinicians use primarily medication management for the treatment of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, depression, and bipolar disorders. Specialists are involved in research and have access to the most recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses.

Health Behavior (HB) Program

This program focuses on conditions that are known to respond best to psychotherapeutic interventions such as individual therapy, group therapy, relaxation training, biofeedback, stress management, coping skills education, and hypnosis. Clinicians specialize in the treatment of Eating Disorders, Women's Issues, Chronic Pain or Medical Illnesses, Personality Disorders, and Anxiety disorders including Post-traumatic Stress, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Panic disorders. The Health Behavior Program also provides therapy for adjustment disorders and depression. Therapies are led by psychologists and psychiatrists. Medication evaluation and management is also available as an adjunct treatment.

MCG Psychiatry and Health Behavior Team

MCG Psychiatry and Health Behavior Services

The MCG Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior provides a continuum of care including evaluation, assessment and referral, outpatient treatment, and inpatient hospitalization.

Evlauation, Assessment and Referral

Nurses, Social Workers, and Mental Health Professionals, staff our Intake Office and offer phone triage and assessments. The outpatient clinic facilitates urgent appointment, and the hospital emergency room provides response for emergent crisis situations. Our goal is to insure that every patient is evaluated promptly and to initiate the appropriate level of treatment as quickly as possible.

Outpatient Care

Inpatient Care

The structured short-term program is focused on crisis stabilization and discharge planning. Treatment is group-oriented, providing psychotherapeutic interventions, education, and medication management. Dual-diagnosis treatment and medical detoxification is also offered for substance abusing and chemically dependent patients.

Community Service

The MCG Psychiatry and Health Behavior Program recognizes the importance of integrating services with the community. MCG utilizes community services in the support of continuum treatment of patients, and serves as a resource for services not offered anywhere else. MCG offers Mental Health professional and community education, and serves in a supportive role for the Medical Health advocacy issues.