About the Department

The Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS Gorakhpur was established in March 2019. Since its inception, the department has been actively engaged in delivering high-quality care for the diagnosis and management of a wide range of mental health and behavioral disorders. Its core mission is to provide multidimensional mental health services, ensuring emotional, cognitive, and behavioral well-being at both community and tertiary levels.

Initially providing only OPD-based services, the department has expanded its scope to include IPD care, dedicated counselling, addiction treatment, and neuromodulation therapies. A specialized Addiction Treatment Facility was set up in October 2022 in collaboration with NDDTC, New Delhi, to treat patients with substance use and behavioral addiction disorders.

A 15-bed Psychiatry Ward became operational in February 2023, and since then, the department has witnessed significant patient inflow, currently managing 150–200 OPD consultations daily. The department is now registered with the Central Mental Health Authority and adheres to standard protocols for the treatment of various mental health disorders including:

• Schizophrenia
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Sleep Disorders
• Sexual Disorders
• Addiction Disorders
• Dementia

A dedicated Counselling Cell addresses the emotional and psychological well-being of students. The department is also equipped with advanced neuromodulation technology such as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) machines, operational since January 2025, providing therapy at minimal and affordable rates.

Emergency Psychiatric Services are available 24×7 to provide immediate care to patients in distress.

Academic Programs

The department has been actively involved in undergraduate psychiatry teaching since 2019. The MD Psychiatry program began in July 2023 with an annual intake of four students. The DM Addiction Psychiatry course started in July 2024 with one seat per year.

In addition to student training, the department is involved in numerous research activities, including both intramural and extramural funded projects. Various mental health awareness and educational programs are regularly conducted both within and outside the institute to reduce stigma and improve mental health literacy.

Vision

The department envisions becoming a center of excellence in clinical care, academic training, and research in the field of mental health.

Currently Available Services

• Consultation for various psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems
• Detailed history taking, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment planning
• Counselling services
• Student Counselling Cell – "MANODAYA"
• Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF Clinic)
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS Therapy)
• 15-bedded inpatient facility for patients requiring admission
• 24×7 emergency psychiatric services

About ATF Clinic

The Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF Clinic) is an initiative for the management of various substance use disorders, coordinated nationally by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Center (NDDTC), AIIMS New Delhi, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India. The ATF Clinic at AIIMS Gorakhpur provides outpatient-based specialist services to patients seeking help for drug addiction.

Services offered in the ATF Clinic include:

• Detailed assessment of addiction-related problems
• Diagnosis and treatment for disorders involving alcohol, nicotine, opioids, cannabis, and other substances
• Counselling, motivational enhancement, behavioral interventions, and psychosocial management
• Regular follow-up services
• Free medications provided under scheme guidelines, wherever applicable

About ECT and rTMS Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective procedure that has been in use for over 60 years for treating patients with severe psychiatric conditions such as depression with suicidal thoughts, schizophrenia, severe psychosis, and other treatment-resistant disorders. The procedure uses controlled electric stimulation under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation. It is painless, non-invasive, and typically completed within 20–30 minutes. Patients recover quickly without memory of the procedure.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a modern neuromodulation technique using magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Approved for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), rTMS also shows promising results in conditions like anxiety, addiction (alcohol, nicotine), neurological pain, post-stroke recovery, migraine, and Parkinsonism. The therapy is delivered over multiple sessions and is free from major side effects.

         ECT Suite: Located in OT Complex                                                                                                                                         rTMS Therapy Room: Dedicated facility

MANODAYA – Student Counselling Cell

The MANODAYA counselling cell is a dedicated facility for addressing the psychological and emotional needs of students. It offers a supportive environment for consultation, counselling, and mental wellness promotion.

Objectives:

• Provide counselling for everyday academic and personal concerns
• Offer treatment and intervention for serious mental health issues
• Promote a healthy lifestyle and positive outlook
• Enhance students’ coping and resilience skills
• Educate on stress management and emotional regulation
• Improve decision-making and problem-solving abilities
• Conduct periodic mental health assessments
• Develop support groups involving peers, seniors, and faculty
• Organize activities to promote mental well-being
• Spread mental health awareness among students
• Sensitize students on the importance of seeking timely help

Courses Offered

• MD Psychiatry
• DM Addiction Psychiatry

FUTURE VISION

• To induct Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatric Social Work and Nursing professionals for providing comprehensive assessment and treatment care.
• To start Psychotherapy, Behavioral therapy, Family therapy and Psychosocial rehabilitation services.
• To start Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(rTMS) treatments.
• Specialty clinics focusing on Addiction disorders, Child Psychiatry, Geriatric Mental health and other specific disorders.
• To start Emergency and Community Psychiatric services.
• To conduct training programs, workshops for students and allied Mental health professionals.
• To start Post Graduate courses in Psychiatry.

OTHER INFORMATION

COURSES PLANNED TO START

• MD Psychiatry
• PDF course in Addiction Medicine