Through our program we have the ability to offer many different types of services to help treat depression and anxiety.

Our clinicians are well adept at basic medication management of depression/anxiety, but also possess cutting edge skills in this area based on our knowledge base, academic setting, access to local and national experts, and access to research protocols and data.  We follow FDA guidelines but also have the ability to analyze, understand, and utilize multiple techniques in conjuction with these guidelines for tailoring a specific treatment plan for each patient.

Through our local network we can offer individual psychotherapy.  We have access to well defined cognitive-behavioral therapy which has the largest research base of evidence for treating anxiety and depression.  Outside of this style of therapy, we also have the ability to provide the more traditional analytical approaches as well

We also have the ability here in Syracuse and regionally to provide the highly specialized electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation therapy (VNS) for refractory depression and are looking forward to newer technologies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS).  We are the only central New York location who utilized VNS and virtual reality treatment (VRT) for anxiety disorders.

Given the above treatment modalities that are all available through our network, we have the ability to provide the most coordinated and comprehensive treatment for resistant depression and anxiety patients.

Intake Process-

Patients generally call our Program’s main phone number, 315 464-3161, and ask to become a patient here.  Patients are also referred from area physicians, emergency rooms, family, and friends.  Once you contact our Coordinator, an information packet will be mailed to you.  This packet contains:

-An information sheet and a map to our clinic

-A form to complete about insurance. 

You must clear your visit with your insurance before you visit by calling their 800# and ask permission to see Dr. Thomas Schwartz.  You will be responsible for all fees if you do not clear your visit with your insurance.

-A form to complete about videotaping sessions.  Sometimes we will do this to more thorough in your care and also may utilize these tapes to train our clinicians to do a better job. If you choose to decline, we will respect your wishes.

-A form to complete about your history of treatment and current symptoms

-It is very important to have as complete a list of all the psychiatric medications that you have ever taken, if they worked or had side effects,  and their highest doses if possible.

-Several checklists regarding your symptoms and general wellbeing

-This is a lengthy packet but let's us be more accurate and thorough assessing your diagnosis and assigning appropriate treatments to you.

Compliance With Care:

We expect you to attend every visit.  The occasional missed appointment is OK, but if there is a pattern of misses and if these are interfering with our ability to safely and effectively treat you, we may choose to discharge you and at a minimum will bill you for the missed appointment time.

We expect you to take your medications as prescribed.  A pattern of misuses may cause us to discharge you.  Always contact us if you think you need an adjustment in your medications.

As part of your treatment plan here with us, we expect you to accurately report your symptoms to the best of your ability.  If at any time you are suicidal and need help, you are responsible and must agree to call us to help you through these symptoms. 

Screening-

We will first review all of the information you send us. If we think that our program can help you, our coordinator will contact you for an initial appointment.  You may be asked to see Dr Schwartz or a member of our team.

*If we feel you have illness outside of the scope of the Program, or that our Program will not be able to treat your specific symptoms, you may be given suggestions of where to obtain treatment if you request.  We will also furnish a brief report about the information you sent us for your records upon request.

We may also bring you in for a ‘Screening Visit’ where we will go over your packet and ask you additional questions.  If we feel the Program will help you, we will invite you to participate.        

Visits:

We will ask you to come early to enter information (surveys and rating scales) into our computer system at each visit.    You will be asked additional questions and we will begin discussing medication and psychotherapy treatments with you.  We use a collaborative approach and we expect you to be active in making decisions about your care.  We believe patients should be well informed and become experts in regards to their illness and the treatments they are expected to participate in. 

We will often suggest a mixture of medication and psychotherapy and feel that individual and group therapy of depression and anxiety is particularly important. 

You will work with our team at different parts of your visit and may see more than one clinician during your visit.  You will likely see students or trainees at your appointments.  Dr. Schwartz will always be aware of your case and receive updates about your case.  He will see you almost every visit.  You will not be billed, if you are not seen by him.  This team approach allows us more chances to evaluate your symptoms and to be more thorough in your care.

We always provide you with information about your treatment and answer your questions.  We will provide you with contact information if you need help outside of usual office hours.