As a psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience, I’ve witnessed firsthand the evolution of mental health care. When I first started practicing, the approach to treating depression and other mental health issues was pretty straightforward: diagnose based on symptoms and prescribe medication.

This one-size-fits-all model was helpful for some. But it left many patients struggling, without significant relief—and without any real answers about what to do next. That’s because this conventional model of symptom-based treatment is incomplete.

Think about it. If you went to your primary care doctor with a persistent cough, you’d expect them to not simply treat your symptom with cough medicine, but to investigate, determine, and address the cause of your cough. To first test and then treat. Maybe the cough is caused by an upper respiratory tract infection. Maybe by heartburn. Maybe by allergies. Each cause requires a different approach to bring your cough under control—to solve your *individual *problem. In physical ailments, one size almost never fits all. Why should mental disorders be any different?

This insight led me and many of my colleagues to explore a new frontier in treatment: functional medicine. I realize that “functional medicine” might sound like a bit of a buzzword, but please stick with me. Truth is, functional medicine—or, more specifically, functional psychiatry—is a gamechanger in how we approach mental health. In fact, for untold thousands of patients with mental disorders, functional psychiatry has been a life-changer, providing real and lasting relief.

Functional Psychiatry: Looking Beyond the Symptoms

Simply put, functional psychiatry seeks to understand and address the root causes of mental health issues, rather than just managing symptoms. The functional psychiatrist is like a detective, investigating clues to solve the mystery of the real culprits behind your condition.

Here are several ways that functional psychiatry is different from a more traditional approach:

Functional psychiatry looks at the whole person, not just a list of symptoms. Your sleep patterns, diet, stress levels, relationships — they all matter.

Functional psychiatry uses comprehensive testing to uncover hidden nutritional, metabolic, and biological imbalances. For example, did you know that a deficiency of vitamin D—affecting an estimated 2/3rds of Americans—can cause depression? It absolutely can, because vitamin D is a precursor to serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter. In functional psychiatry, testing and correcting vitamin D deficiency is a must. The credo of functional psychiatry: First test, then treat.

Functional psychiatry creates personalized treatment plans. No two individuals are biochemically alike. Because you are unique, your treatment should be, too.

Functional psychiatry integrates conventional treatments with evidence-based natural approaches. Yes, sometimes medication is necessary. But often, targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes can make a world of difference. Targeted nutrition can also *augment *medication, increasing effectiveness and decreasing side effects.

Now that you know what makes functional psychiatry different, let’s look at what actually happens during a typical appointment with a functional psychiatrist.

A Different Kind of Psychiatric Appointment

When a new patient comes into my clinic to see me, our first meeting is quite different from a traditional psychiatric evaluation. Sure, we talk about medical and family history, and about symptoms. But we also dive deeper into the patient’s lifestyle, from diet to sleep to stress. And I ask about physical factors that might seem unrelated to mental health, like digestive issues or past infections.

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These explorations aren’t random.

For example, functional psychiatry takes into account that gut health can play a crucial role in mental well-being—or the lack of it. Scientists have identified the gut-brain axis, a two-way system that can play a role in depression, anxiety, and many other mental health problems. Similarly, chronic infections can trigger inflammation in the brain (neuroinflammation), a factor that also has been linked to mental disorders.

After I have a clearer picture of the patient, I perform a range of tests. Not just a basic blood panel, but tests to detect nutritional deficiencies, imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), hormonal disturbances, neuroinflammation, blood sugar disruptions, and the like.

Then, based on these results, the patient and I collaborate on creating a personalized treatment plan. This might include targeted supplementation to correct nutrient deficiencies, dietary changes to support gut health, stress-reduction techniques, and yes, medication when necessary.

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A Patient Success Story

I’d like to tell you about a patient named Melinda (not her real name), a 36-year-old mother of two. She had battled depression since college, but stopped taking antidepressants due to sexual side effects like low libido and difficulty reaching orgasm.

Melinda also experienced what she described as chronic indigestion, with frequent bloating and gas. To handle these problems, she regularly took over-the-counter antacids.

When I conducted tests, I discovered that even though Melinda was careful about her diet and ate plenty of protein—including fish and chicken — her levels of several amino acids (the building blocks of protein) were low. This was likely due to her overuse of antacids, which have been shown to interfere with nutrient absorption.

Low levels of amino acids can be a big problem when it comes to mental health. Here’s why.

Amino acids form neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that relay messages from one brain cell (neuron) to the next. Many antidepressants work by balancing levels of key neurotransmitters. But antidepressant medications aren’t the only way to regulate neurotransmitters. Therapeutic levels of amino acids have a similar mechanism of action,* *boosting the supply of serotonin and many other crucial neurotransmitters—thereby restoring balanced brain function and positive mood.

I addressed Melinda’s digestive issues by having her take hydrochloric acid (to balance stomach acid) and digestive enzymes. I also added a supplement of free-form amino acids, a type of amino acid that is easily digested. Just adding these three supplements led to significant improvements in just a few weeks. Not only did she notice an improvement in her mood and energy, but her chronic digestion problems resolved, too!

(You can read much more about my therapeutic use of free-form amino acids and other targeted nutritional supplements to treat depression in my book Finally Hopeful: The Personalized, Whole-Body Plan to Find and Fix the Root Causes of Your Depression.)

This case is a good illustration of why functional psychiatry works: it looks beyond psychological symptoms and considers the whole person—mind *and *body. And when it works, the results can be transformative.

Of course, functional psychiatry requires more time and effort than simply prescribing a pill.

It involves active participation from the patient — you might need to make dietary changes, take supplements, or work on stress-reduction techniques. But in my experience, the results are often worth the effort.

If you or your patients are struggling with depression or other mental health issues, I strongly encourage you to consider this functional approach. If you’re a patient, look for a functional mental health practitioner who takes the time to understand your unique situation and who is willing to dig deeper than surface-level symptoms. If you’re a practitioner, consider training in functional psychiatry.

Remember, you are not just a collection of symptoms. You’re a unique person, and you deserve unique, customized care. Functional psychiatry provides it.

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.