Medical Investigation for Mental Health Optimization
Systematic root-cause investigation identifies the underlying medical factors—thyroid function, nutritional status, sleep quality, hormones—that limit mental clarity, energy, and mood. Whether you're struggling with treatment-resistant symptoms or seeking to optimize from 'functional' to 'exceptional,' comprehensive medical-psychiatric assessment changes outcomes.
Most patients achieve significant lasting improvement within 2-3 months through root-cause investigation.
Once optimized, quarterly 20-30 minute check-ins maintain wellness long-term—not endless weekly therapy.
This contrasts with standard psychiatric care where only 30-40% of patients experience adequate symptom improvement, often requiring ongoing intensive treatment without clear resolution.
Or call us directly: (310) 955-1041
Palos Verdes Peninsula • Virtual & In-Person
Chandler • Virtual & In-Person
Available within 3-5 days
Most major insurance accepted
Telehealth & in-person
What Is Diagnostic Psychiatry?
40%
of complex psychiatric symptoms have underlying medical causes that standard psychiatric evaluation typically misses—thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies (B12, iron, vitamin D), undiagnosed sleep apnea, hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, medication interactions. When these go unidentified, patients cycle through multiple medications without improvement.
This is why I spend 75-90 minutes in initial evaluations, not 15 minutes. Why I order comprehensive medical workups. Why I look at the whole picture before recommending treatment.
What We Investigate
Complete review of medical history and current medications
Assessment for thyroid, metabolic, and hormonal factors
Evaluation of nutritional deficiencies (B12, iron, folate, vitamin D)
Sleep quality and potential sleep disorders
Medication interactions and side effects
Other systemic medical factors affecting mental health
What We Investigate: 8 Body Systems That Affect Mental Performance
Comprehensive medical-psychiatric assessment systematically examines physiological factors across multiple body systems. Here's what we look at:
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Thyroid, cortisol, sex hormones
Complete thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, antibodies), cortisol patterns, testosterone, estrogen. Thyroid dysfunction alone affects 15-20% of depression cases.
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Vitamins, minerals, deficiencies
Vitamin D, B12, folate, iron/ferritin, magnesium. Deficiencies directly impair neurotransmitter production—B12 deficiency alone can mimic depression for years.
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Thyroid, cortisol, sex hormones
Screening for undiagnosed sleep apnea (80% undiagnosed in psychiatric populations), circadian rhythm disorders, sleep quality assessment. Poor sleep mimics and worsens psychiatric symptoms.
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Blood pressure, heart medications
Blood pressure effects on cognition, cardiac medication impacts on mood (beta-blockers commonly cause depression), autonomic nervous system function.
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Blood sugar, insulin, energy
Insulin resistance, glucose dysregulation, metabolic syndrome. Blood sugar instability directly affects mood, energy, focus, and anxiety levels.
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All medications reviewed
19 years ICU experience with complex medication regimens. Many non-psychiatric medications (statins, steroids, blood pressure meds) cause psychiatric side effects.
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Chronic inflammation assessment
C-reactive protein, inflammatory cytokines. Chronic inflammation directly linked to depression—treating inflammation can resolve psychiatric symptoms.
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Reproductive hormones, DHEA
Perimenopause/menopause effects, testosterone optimization, DHEA levels. Hormonal changes significantly impact mood, energy, cognition, and anxiety.
Why this matters: Standard 15-minute psychiatric visits rarely investigate these factors systematically. When medical causes go unidentified, patients cycle through psychiatric medications that can't work—because they're treating symptoms, not causes.
Who Benefits from This Approach
Treatment-resistant symptoms: If you've tried multiple medications or approaches without lasting improvement, systematic medical investigation often reveals why. When the diagnosis is incomplete, treatment effectiveness is limited regardless of which medications are tried.
Optimization from functional to exceptional: Many people experience subtle declines in mental clarity, energy, or mood despite being 'functional' on paper Often these reflect medical factors—suboptimal thyroid function, nutritional deficiencies, sleep issues—that respond quickly to targeted optimization.
The First Visit
75-90 minutes—not a standard 15-minute appointment. We systematically investigate your complete medical history, all current medications (psychiatric and non-psychiatric), symptom patterns, sleep quality, nutritional status, stress factors, and family history. You receive a clear diagnostic plan with specific lab recommendations and targeted next steps.
When we identify and address underlying medical factors—either instead of or alongside psychiatric medications—most patients experience significant improvement within 2-3 months. Accurate diagnosis enables effective treatment rather than prolonged trial-and-error.
After 19 years across 7 ICU specialties at top hospitals (Cedars-Sinai, USC Keck), I developed Diagnostic Psychiatry—a systematic approach applying ICU-level diagnostic investigation to mental health and cognitive optimization. Instead of 15-minute medication checks using trial-and-error, we investigate WHY symptoms occur through comprehensive medical-psychiatric assessment.
New patients within 3-5 days
75-90 minute initial evaluation
Virtual and in-person available
Most major insurance accepted
Licensed in California & Arizona
Depression & Mood Disorders
Anxiety & Panic
ADHD & Focus Issues
Treatment-Resistant Symptoms
Trauma & PTSD
Sleep Disorders
Cognitive Optimization
California:
Palos Verdes Peninsula
Los Angeles area
Arizona:
4025 W Chandler Blvd
Chandler, AZ 85226
Phone:
(310) 955-1041
40%
of psychiatric patients have undiagnosed medical causes
78%
of our patients achieve significant improvement
2-3 months
average time to significant improvement
3-5 days
typical wait for new patient appointments
How Treatment Actually Works
A clear path from comprehensive diagnosis to long-term wellness—not endless appointments or years of uncertainty.
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We start with a thorough 75-90 minute evaluation—not a rushed 15-minute appointment. We order the right tests and look at your complete medical picture.
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Full medical history review
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Comprehensive lab workup
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Medication interaction analysis
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Visit frequency matched to your needs
Our philosophy: Every month you're under-treated matters. We don't make you wait—if you need to be seen, we see you.
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Once we know what's wrong, fixing it is usually straightforward. We address root causes with targeted treatment—not trial-and-error guessing.Treat identified medical
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Treat identified medical causes first
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Evidence-based psychiatric treatment when needed
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Monthly monitoring and optimization
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Most patients significantly better by week 8-12
Average timeline: 2-3 months to significant improvement— not 6-12 months of unsuccessful medication trials.
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Once you're stable, you don't need weekly therapy or constant management. Simple quarterly check-ins keep you well.
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15-30 minute check-ins every 3 months
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Preventive monitoring and adjustment
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You have a psychiatric home
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Predictable, sustainable care
The goal: Get you better, keep you better, let you live your life—not keep you in treatment indefinitely.
A Side-by-Side Comparison
Both approaches aim to help you feel better. The path to get there is fundamentally different.
Traditional Psychiatry
15-30 minute medication check
Start medication, see if it works
Basic labs if you request them, or after multiple failed treatments
Try medication A (8 weeks),
if fails try B (8 weeks), continue trial-and-error
Monthly or quarterly med checks as long as needed
6-12 months of medication trials
Our Approach
75-90 minute comprehensive evaluation
Find out what's actually wrong first through systematic medical investigation
Start medicaComprehensive medical workup upfront—thyroid, nutritional, metabolic, sleep, medication effectstion, see if it works
Address identified root causes, targeted treatment based on actual diagnosis
Quarterly 15-30 minute check-ins once stable—you have a psychiatric home
2-3 months (78% significant improvement rate)
What Happens When We Find the Root Cause
These outcomes represent what's possible when you investigate thoroughly first— not after years of failed treatments.
THYROID-INDUCED ANXIETY
"I tried two different antidepressants for anxiety. Nothing helped. First visit here, they noticed I was always cold and my hair was thinning. Thyroid test showed severe hypothyroidism that had been missed. Within 6 weeks of proper thyroid treatment, I felt like myself again."
6 weeks
— Marketing Director, Age 42
Medical Cause: Undiagnosed hypothyroidism
MEDICATION SIDE EFFECT
"I was being treated for depression, but the medication review revealed my blood pressure medication was actually causing depressive symptoms. They coordinated with my cardiologist to switch medications. Depression resolved within 3 weeks. No psychiatric medication needed."
3 weeks
— Sales Executive, Age 58
Medical Cause: Beta-blocker side effects
SLEEP APNEA + DEFICIENCY
"Years of 'treatment-resistant depression.' Comprehensive workup found severe sleep apnea and iron deficiency. After CPAP and iron supplementation, energy returned, mood stabilized. Now I see them quarterly and I'm thriving. I just needed someone to actually investigate."
10 weeks
— Teacher, Age 35
Medical Causes: Sleep apnea + iron deficiency
What People Ask Before Their First Visit
No. Once we identify what's wrong and optimize treatment (typically 2-3 months), you transition to quarterly check-ins. The goal is sustained wellness with minimal ongoing intervention—not indefinite intensive care.
Then we use evidence-based psychiatric treatment. But we've ruled out medical factors first, so we know we're addressing the right thing. Either way, you get clarity and targeted treatment—not years of trial-and-error.
We invest significantly more time investigating underlying medical factors BEFORE making treatment decisions. Standard psychiatric care typically begins with medication trial-and-error. We start with systematic investigation to understand what's actually causing symptoms.
Yes! We accept most major insurance plans including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Contact us to verify your specific plan coverage.
Typically 3-5 days for new patients. We know prolonged wait times when you're struggling aren't acceptable. We maintain appointment availability because every month under-optimized matters.
That's completely appropriate. We adjust visit frequency based on clinical need, not rigid protocols. Early on, weekly visits are common. As you improve, we space them out. Treatment intensity matches your needs.
Depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma/PTSD, and treatment-resistant symptoms. The key difference is we investigate underlying medical contributors for all these conditions—thyroid function, nutritional status, sleep quality, hormonal factors, medication interactions—before or alongside psychiatric treatment.
We provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, medication management when appropriate, and coordination with other specialists. If you need ongoing weekly therapy, we can refer you to excellent therapists and coordinate care. Our focus is accurate diagnosis and medical management.
Not at all. Many patients are already functional but seeking optimization—going from "good" to "great." Others have treatment-resistant symptoms. Both benefit from systematic medical investigation to identify any limiting factors.
Initial comprehensive evaluation is typically $300-400 depending on insurance. We verify your benefits before your appointment so you know what to expect. Most insurance plans cover psychiatric evaluation with standard copay or coinsurance.
Comprehensive Medical-Psychiatric Evaluation for
Treatment-Resistant Symptoms
Fast access to thorough diagnostic evaluation when patients plateau at 70-80% improvement or develop new psychiatric symptoms. Non-competitive optimization service—we work alongside your treatment, not instead of it.
Why Specialists Refer
Fast access: 3-5 day appointments when standard psychiatric wait times average 73 days
ICU-trained medical expertise: 19 years critical care experience with complex medication interactions and physiological factors
Comprehensive medical-psychiatric integration: Systematic investigation of thyroid, sleep, nutrition, hormonal factors alongside psychiatric evaluation
Detailed consultation reports: Thorough documentation for your records with clear findings and recommendations
Collaborative communication: Proactive coordination around treatment changes and optimization strategies
Long-term psychiatric partnership: Your patient continues with us for ongoing care—you don't need to find another psychiatrist
Common referral scenarios: Post-surgical psychiatric symptoms, medication-induced mood changes, treatment-resistant depression/anxiety, new psychiatric symptoms in chronic medical conditions, patients "doing okay but still symptomatic" despite medical optimization.
Contact us for specialist referral process, expected timeline, and coordination approach.
Or email: referrals@horizonpeakhealth.com
What Happens When After You Book?
We've made the process as simple and clear as possible. Here's exactly what to expect:
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Book Your Visit
Schedule online or call us. Choose video or in-person.
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Insurance Check
Schedule online or call us. Choose video or in-person.
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3
Intake Forms
Simple online forms sent to you (15-20 minutes to complete).
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4
First Visit
75-90 minute comprehensive evaluation, usually within 3-5 days.
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Treatment Plan
Clear diagnosis, recommended tests, and next steps discussed.
No pressure, no commitment. After your first visit, you'll have a clear understanding of what's going on and what we recommend. You decide if you want to move forward. Most patients continue because they finally have answers.
Ready to Identify What's Limiting Your Mental Performance?
Most patients achieve significant improvement within 2-3 months through comprehensive medical-psychiatric investigation. Once optimized, simple quarterly check-ins maintain wellness long-term.
Available within 3-5 days
Most Insurance accepted
Telehealth Available
Serving CA & AZ
We Take Insurance
