Integrative Depression Care · Miami, FL
Depression Treatment in Miami
Mariela Padro, MD provides personalized depression evaluation and treatment in Miami, considering psychiatric symptoms alongside relevant medical and lifestyle factors.
21M
Americans experience major depression each year
30-40%
Do not respond adequately to first-line medications
90 min
Comprehensive initial evaluation at PadroMD
1:1
Individualized psychiatric evaluation and care
Mariela Padro, MD
Psychiatrist · Miami, FL
Mariela Padro, MD is a psychiatrist in Miami, Florida. Her approach takes time to understand each patient’s symptoms, history, and broader context before recommending care.
Understanding Depression
Depression Is More Than Low Serotonin
For decades, depression was explained primarily as a "chemical imbalance" — specifically low serotonin — and treated almost exclusively with SSRIs. While antidepressants help many people, this model fails to explain why 30–40% of patients do not respond to medication, and why so many who do respond relapse when they stop.
Depression is a multisystem condition. Research has identified dozens of biological pathways that drive depressive symptoms: hypothyroidism suppresses neurological function; low testosterone blunts motivation and vitality; vitamin D deficiency impairs serotonin synthesis; chronic inflammation directly damages the hippocampus; mitochondrial dysfunction depletes mental energy; and gut dysbiosis disrupts the gut-brain neurotransmitter axis.
At PadroMD, Dr. Mariela Padro investigates all of these pathways in every patient — because treating depression comprehensively means finding and correcting every biological and psychological driver, not just the most obvious one.
Common Signs & Symptoms
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
- Fatigue and low energy that is not relieved by sleep
- Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering
- Changes in appetite — significant weight loss or gain
- Sleep disturbances — insomnia or sleeping too much
- Psychomotor slowing — feeling physically slowed down
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or self-blame
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
Our Approach
A New Standard for Depression Treatment in Miami
Depression is rarely caused by a single factor. At PadroMD, Dr. Mariela Padro evaluates the full spectrum of biological, psychological, and social contributors to your depression — including hormonal deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, chronic inflammation, gut-brain axis disruption, nutritional deficiencies, and unresolved trauma.
Our integrative approach combines the precision of functional medicine with the depth of psychiatric care. We go beyond SSRIs to explore all evidence-based options, from targeted supplementation and hormone optimization to psychotherapy and lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Padro serves patients across Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, South Miami, and all of South Florida who are seeking a psychiatrist who truly digs deeper and builds a treatment plan around who you are — not a population average.
- Comprehensive psychiatric and functional medicine evaluation
- Full hormonal panel including thyroid, sex hormones, cortisol
- Inflammatory and nutritional lab workup
- Medication management and optimization
- Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) when indicated
- Nutritional psychiatry protocols
- Psychodynamic and integrative psychotherapy
- Ketamine consultation for treatment-resistant cases
Types of Depression
Depression Presentations We Specialize In
Dr. Padro has deep expertise in treating complex, treatment-resistant, and hormonally-driven depression in adults — particularly in high-achieving professionals, women in hormonal transitions, and patients who have not responded adequately to conventional treatments.
She approaches each presentation with fresh clinical eyes, asking not just "what is the diagnosis?" but "what is driving this specific patient's depression, and what is the most effective way to address it?" This results in treatment plans that look very different from patient to patient — because no two people's depressions have the same root.
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
- Postpartum & perinatal depression
- Perimenopausal & menopausal depression
- Burnout-related depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Dysthymia / Persistent Depressive Disorder
- Depression with anxiety (mixed presentation)
- Testosterone-deficiency depression (men & women)
- Thyroid-driven depression
Advanced Options
Beyond SSRIs: Advanced Depression Treatments
When conventional antidepressants have not produced adequate results, Dr. Padro offers a comprehensive re-evaluation and access to advanced treatment modalities. Rather than simply cycling through medication options, she investigates why previous treatments failed and addresses those gaps directly.
Ketamine-assisted therapy may be considered as one option for appropriate patients with treatment-resistant depression. The practice also considers bioidentical hormone therapy, nutritional psychiatry protocols, and TMS therapy evaluation and referral coordination for appropriate candidates.
The goal is not to find a medication that partially suppresses your symptoms — it is to achieve genuine remission by restoring the biological and psychological foundation of mental health.
- Ketamine-assisted therapy evaluation where appropriate
- BHRT for hormone-driven depression
- TMS therapy candidacy evaluation and referral
- Advanced nutritional psychiatry (omega-3, methylfolate, etc.)
- Mitochondrial support protocols
- Psychodynamic and trauma-informed psychotherapy
- Lifestyle medicine: sleep, exercise, light therapy
- Ongoing lab-guided optimization and monitoring
Your Care Journey
What to Expect at PadroMD
Deep-Dive Evaluation
A 90-minute initial appointment exploring your psychiatric history, medical background, hormones, nutrition, sleep, and life context.
Root-Cause Labs
Comprehensive functional medicine testing covering thyroid, hormones, inflammation, nutrients, gut health, and metabolic markers.
Personalized Treatment Plan
An individualized protocol integrating the most evidence-based, biologically targeted treatments for your specific depression drivers.
Monitor & Optimize
Regular follow-up appointments, lab retesting, and protocol refinements to ensure you reach and maintain genuine remission.
Why Choose Dr. Padro
Beyond Medication
We consider the broader picture — hormones, gut health, inflammation, nutrition — not just neurotransmitters.
Hormone-Informed Care
Hormonal factors may contribute to depression for some patients and may be considered as part of a comprehensive evaluation.
Personalized Experience
Longer appointments and individualized recommendations based on your evaluation.
Women's Mental Health
Attention to postpartum, perimenopausal, and hormonally-related depression in women.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami, Florida
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you are considering next steps, request a consultation with Mariela Padro, MD. Service availability should be confirmed with the practice.
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