Referring Clinicians – How to Refer a Patient

The UTHealth Houston Center for Interventional Psychiatry partners with community and academic clinicians to provide specialized evaluation and treatment for patients with severe, complex, and treatment-resistant psychiatric illness. We welcome referrals from psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and other mental health professionals.

Our goal is to support referring clinicians through timely consultation, clear communication, and coordinated care.

When to Refer

Referral to the Center may be appropriate for patients who:

  • Have treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders, especially depression or bipolar disorder
  • Have failed multiple medication trials or standard psychotherapy
  • Are being considered for interventional treatments (ECT, TMS, ketamine-based therapies)
  • Require diagnostic clarification in the context of complex or refractory illness
  • Experience recurrent hospitalizations, functional decline, or persistent symptoms
  • Present with severe depression, suicidality, or high clinical risk requiring specialized care planning

Referrals are appropriate across outpatient, IOP, PHP, and inpatient levels of care.

What We Provide

Following referral, the Center may offer:

  • Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and treatment recommendations
  • Assessment for appropriate level of care
  • Consultation regarding interventional psychiatry options
  • Short-term specialty care or integration into structured programs
  • Ongoing collaboration with the referring clinician

Patients may return to the referring provider for longitudinal care, or care may be shared depending on clinical needs.

How to Refer

Referrals may be initiated in the following ways:

  • By phone: 📞 (713) 486-2621
  • By referral: A referral from a psychiatrist, primary care provider, or mental health professional may be submitted

Referrals should include, when available:

  • Brief clinical summary and diagnosis
  • Current medications and prior treatment trials
  • Relevant psychiatric hospitalization history
  • Safety concerns (e.g., suicidality, catatonia, psychosis)
  • Recent records, if available

Urgency will be assessed at the time of referral.

Levels of Care and Urgency

  • Outpatient / IOP / PHP: Routine or expedited referrals based on symptom severity
  • Inpatient care: For patients requiring hospitalization, referrals may be coordinated directly with inpatient services at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center (DCB 4C)
  • Emergent situations: Patients with imminent safety risk should be directed to the nearest emergency department or via emergency services

This page is not intended for emergency referrals.

Communication With Referring Clinicians

The Center is committed to:

  • Clear communication regarding evaluation findings and recommendations
  • Coordination with referring clinicians whenever possible
  • Shared decision-making to support continuity of care
  • Timely updates for complex or high-risk cases

Our Role as a Tertiary Care Resource

The Center serves as a tertiary and quaternary referral resource for complex psychiatric illness. We aim to complement—not replace—ongoing community and academic psychiatric care.