Patient guides
Guides on psychiatric treatment and how it fits with your medical care
Written for patients and families in Illinois — what to expect, what to ask, and when to reach out. Educational only, and not a substitute for an evaluation.
Starting antidepressants
What happens in the first weeks on an antidepressant: timeline, common early effects, dose changes, follow-up, and how care is coordinated in Illinois.
Read the guideADHD evaluation
How an adult or teen ADHD evaluation works: rating scales, history, ruling out look-alike conditions, and what happens if medication is part of the plan.
Read the guideManaging side effects
Which psychiatric medication side effects usually fade, which need a dose change, and which need urgent attention — plus how to report them between visits.
Read the guidePsychiatry & primary care
How psychiatric care and primary care coordinate: baseline labs, medical conditions that mimic mental illness, records sharing, and who manages which prescription.
Read the guideWhat is a PMHNP?
What psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners do, and how they prescribe psychiatric medication in Illinois.
Read the guide