Maria T. Leighton

Psychiatrist

Ms. Maria T. Leighton is a Psychiatrist in Des Moines, IA with special training and skill in diagnosing and treating people with mental illness. As a Psychiatrist, Maria T. Leighton performs mental health assessment, helps patients manage long-term mental health conditions, offers medical treatment and therapy for a wide variety of psychological disorders, provides patient and parent education, and offers referrals to other medical specialists as needed. Psychiatry is a medical specialty centered on diagnosing and treating patients suffering from a wide variety of mental illnesses and cognitive disorders. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Psychiatrists include anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), delusional thought processes, self-harm disorders, eating disorders, specific phobias, drug, alcohol, and gambling addiction, and mood disorders. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Psychiatrists include mental health evaluation and diagnosis, psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), electroconvulsive therapy, medication prescription, exposure therapy, grief counseling, marriage counseling, and referral to other specialists as needed.

A Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders and adjustment disorders. Biologic, psychological, and social components of illnesses are explored and understood in treatment of the whole person. Tools used may include diagnostic laboratory tests, prescribed medications, evaluation and treatment of psychological and interpersonal problems with individuals and families, and intervention for coping with stress, crises, and other problems.