Question 1

What is integrative psychiatry?

Accepted Answer

Integrative psychiatry combines conventional psychiatric training with functional medicine, nutritional science, mind-body medicine, and holistic approaches to treat the whole person. Dr. Mariela Padro at PadroMD in Miami is fellowship-trained in integrative psychiatry through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI).

Question 2

What is functional psychiatry?

Accepted Answer

Functional psychiatry investigates and treats the biological root causes of mental health conditions — including hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, gut-brain axis dysfunction, inflammation, and mitochondrial issues — rather than only managing symptoms. Dr. Padro is one of Miami's leading functional psychiatrists.

Question 3

What is peptide therapy?

Accepted Answer

Peptide therapy uses short amino acid chains that act as biological signaling molecules to stimulate growth hormone, repair tissue, enhance cognition, reduce inflammation, and optimize hormonal function. Dr. Mariela Padro offers physician-supervised peptide therapy in Miami.

Question 4

What is NAD+ therapy?

Accepted Answer

NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) therapy replenishes the body's cellular energy currency, which declines with age and chronic stress. It supports mitochondrial function, DNA repair, cognitive clarity, and longevity. Dr. Padro incorporates NAD+ optimization into her functional medicine and longevity protocols in Miami.

Question 5

What causes burnout?

Accepted Answer

Burnout is caused by chronic unmanaged stress that depletes the body's hormonal, neurological, and metabolic reserves. Key biological drivers include cortisol dysregulation (HPA axis dysfunction), testosterone and DHEA depletion, mitochondrial exhaustion, thyroid suppression, and chronic neuroinflammation. Dr. Padro specializes in comprehensive burnout recovery in Miami.

Question 6

How does hormone imbalance affect mental health?

Accepted Answer

Hormones including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol directly regulate the brain's neurotransmitter systems — serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine. Deficiencies or imbalances in these hormones are major drivers of depression, anxiety, ADHD, brain fog, and burnout. Dr. Padro evaluates hormonal contributions to psychiatric symptoms in all patients.

Question 7

What is TMS therapy?

Accepted Answer

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is an FDA-approved, non-invasive brain stimulation treatment for depression and OCD that uses magnetic pulses to activate underactive brain regions. It is particularly effective for treatment-resistant depression. Dr. Padro evaluates TMS candidacy and coordinates care within her integrative psychiatric practice in Miami.

Question 8

How do hormones affect mood?

Accepted Answer

Hormones act as master regulators of brain chemistry. Estrogen enhances serotonin and dopamine activity. Progesterone has GABA-modulating anxiolytic effects. Testosterone influences dopamine and motivation. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolic rate and neural energy. Cortisol controls stress response. Imbalances in any of these produce profound mood effects that mirror psychiatric disorders.

Question 9

What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)?

Accepted Answer

BHRT uses hormones that are molecularly identical to those your body naturally produces — unlike synthetic hormones used in conventional HRT. Dr. Mariela Padro is Biote-certified and offers personalized bioidentical hormone therapy in Miami for men and women experiencing hormonal deficiencies, perimenopause, menopause, or testosterone deficiency.

Question 10

Who is Dr. Mariela Padro?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Mariela Padro is a board-certified psychiatrist based in Miami, FL. She is a Chief Resident alumna of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, holds a Fellowship of Psychoanalysis from NYU, completed a Fellowship in Integrative Psychiatry with the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, is Biote-certified in BHRT, and is certified in ketamine-assisted therapy. She specializes in integrative psychiatry, functional medicine, hormone optimization, peptide therapy, longevity medicine, and women's mental health. She serves patients across Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, Miami Beach, and South Florida.