Lab Testing in Integrative Psychiatry: What You Need to Know

In integrative psychiatry, lab testing isn’t just about numbers—it’s about understanding why you feel the way you do. At our practice, we use advanced diagnostic testing to identify the biological imbalances that contribute to depression, anxiety, fatigue, and focus issues. From inflammation and hormones to gut health and genetics, this data helps us create a clear, personalized treatment plan—so you can stop guessing and start healing with confidence.

Why Lab Testing Is Central to Integrative Psychiatry

If you’ve ever felt like your mental health treatment was a process of trial and error, you’re not alone. The conventional approach often relies on observing symptoms and trying different medications, hoping one will stick. Integrative and functional psychiatry offers a more precise, data-driven path. We use lab testing to look under the hood, revealing the biological “why” behind your symptoms. This root cause psychiatry approach allows for truly personalized care, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all model to address the specific imbalances that are impacting your mood, energy, and focus.

The Difference Between Conventional and Integrative Testing

The distinction between conventional and integrative testing lies in the depth and breadth of the investigation. A conventional approach might check basic blood counts or thyroid function but often stops there. Integrative testing goes much further, adding layers of biological insight to guide a more precise and holistic treatment plan.

An integrative psychiatrist uses functional medicine labs for mental health to explore the interconnected systems of the body. This includes looking at:

• Inflammation: Are there signs of chronic, low-grade inflammation that could be driving depression or anxiety?
• Hormones: Is your stress response system (cortisol) working properly? Are your thyroid or sex hormones out of balance?
• Nutrient Levels: Are you deficient in key vitamins and minerals your brain needs to make neurotransmitters?
• Gut Microbiome: Is your digestive system healthy, or is an imbalanced gut contributing to your mental health challenges?
• Genetics: Do you have genetic variations that affect how you process medications or certain nutrients?

By gathering this data, we build a comprehensive picture of your unique biology. This allows us to create a personalized psychiatry testing plan that leads to targeted, effective care. This methodology is a core component of the broader field of integrative and functional psychiatry.

What Lab Testing Looks For in Mental Health Treatment

Integrative psychiatry lab testing provides a roadmap to your inner world, revealing the subtle yet powerful biological factors that shape how you think and feel. By examining these key areas, we can move from managing symptoms to restoring health at a foundational level.

Inflammation and Immune Markers

Chronic inflammation is like a low-level fire burning throughout your body, and the brain is highly sensitive to its effects. This systemic inflammation can disrupt neurotransmitter production, reduce brain cell growth, and contribute to feelings of fatigue, brain fog, and low mood. It is a major, often-overlooked factor in mental health.

An integrative psychiatrist will often test for inflammatory markers to assess your level of inflammation. Common markers include:

• High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP): A general marker of inflammation in the body. Elevated levels are strongly linked to depression.
• Homocysteine: An amino acid that, when elevated, can indicate inflammation and is a risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and cognitive issues.
• Cytokine Panels: Cytokines are signaling proteins that regulate the immune response. An imbalance in pro-inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory cytokines can drive mood disorders.

Identifying and addressing the source of this inflammation—be it from diet, gut health, or hidden infections—is a cornerstone of treating depression and anxiety naturally.

Hormones and Neurotransmitters

Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that orchestrate thousands of functions in the body, including mood regulation and stress resilience. When they are out of balance, your mental health can suffer profoundly.

Hormone testing in psychiatry is critical and often includes:

• Adrenal Hormones (Cortisol): Cortisol is your primary stress hormone. We often use saliva testing to map your cortisol rhythm throughout the day. A dysregulated pattern—too high or too low at the wrong times—is a classic driver of cortisol and anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems.
• Thyroid Hormones: A comprehensive thyroid panel (going beyond the standard TSH test) is essential. An underactive thyroid can mimic depression perfectly, causing fatigue, weight gain, and low mood. The thyroid depression link is one of the most important to rule out.
• Sex Hormones: Imbalances in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can all have a significant impact on mood, particularly for women throughout their menstrual cycle or during perimenopause.

Genetic and Epigenetic Testing

Your genes are not your destiny, but they can provide invaluable clues for personalizing your treatment. Genetic testing in psychiatry helps us understand your unique predispositions and how your body is likely to respond to different interventions.

One of the most powerful tools is pharmacogenomic testing, which looks at genes that influence how you metabolize psychiatric medications. This testing can help:

• Reduce Trial-and-Error: By identifying which medications you are likely to process well and which might cause side effects, pharmacogenomics in mental health can help you find the right treatment faster.
• Personalize Dosing: Your genes can tell us if you are a “rapid metabolizer” (requiring a higher dose) or a “poor metabolizer” (needing a lower dose) of a particular drug.

Other genetic tests can reveal predispositions related to methylation (a key process for making neurotransmitters), detoxification, and inflammation, guiding a more precise supplement and lifestyle plan.

Gut and Microbiome Testing

The gut-brain axis is one of the most exciting frontiers in modern medicine. We now know that the health of your digestive system has a direct and powerful impact on your brain. Comprehensive gut microbiome and mental health testing can provide critical insights.

This testing can reveal:

• Dysbiosis: An imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in your gut.
• Leaky Gut: Increased intestinal permeability, which allows toxins to enter the bloodstream and drive inflammation.
• Hidden Infections: The presence of yeast overgrowth, parasites, or bacterial infections.
• Digestive Function: How well you are breaking down and absorbing your food.

Because so many neurotransmitters are made in the gut, and because gut health is a major regulator of inflammation, addressing digestive health is often a crucial step in resolving anxiety and depression. Gut-brain axis psychiatry is no longer a fringe concept; it is essential to a holistic approach.

How Lab Results Guide Your Treatment Plan

Gathering data is only the first step. The true power of integrative psychiatry lies in the skillful interpretation of that data and its translation into a cohesive, personalized treatment plan that works for your real life. This is where science meets the art of medicine.

Using Data to Personalize Medication and Supplement Choices

The information from your lab work provides a clear roadmap for creating a personalized psychiatry plan. For example:

• If pharmacogenomic testing shows you are a poor metabolizer of a certain class of antidepressants, we can avoid those medications and choose one that is a better fit for your genetics, minimizing side effects.
• If lab testing reveals a significant Vitamin D deficiency, supplementing with the appropriate dose can have a powerful, direct effect on improving mood.
• If we identify a variation in your MTHFR gene, we know to use a specific, activated form of folate (L-methylfolate) to support neurotransmitter production.

This data-driven mental health treatment moves beyond generic advice. Instead of “take this for stress,” it becomes, “Your cortisol is high in the evening, so let’s use this specific adaptogenic herb to help calm your nervous system before bed.”

How Lab Data Shapes Nutrition and Lifestyle Plans

Lab results also provide the blueprint for your personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan. We see food as information for your cells, and we use your lab data to determine what information your body needs most.

• If food sensitivity testing reveals a strong reaction to gluten, creating a gluten-free nutrition plan becomes a priority for reducing inflammation.
• If a gut test shows low levels of beneficial bacteria, your plan will include prebiotic-rich foods and specific probiotics to nourish your microbiome.
• If inflammatory markers are high, we will build a functional medicine diet for anxiety and depression that is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

This is a core principle of how functional medicine helps treat depression and anxiety naturally. By integrating these insights, we create a 360-degree plan that addresses your health from every angle.

Inside The BLISS Protocol: The Diagnostic Phase

The BLISS Protocol is our signature functional psychiatry program in Brooklyn. It is a structured journey designed to translate the principles of integrative psychiatry into a clear and supportive process. The diagnostic phase is where it all begins, using advanced lab testing to build the foundation for your healing.

This phase is about combining deep listening with objective data. It’s where we move from the story of your symptoms to the science of your biology. The BLISS Protocol provides the framework to connect these dots, ensuring that your treatment plan is not just scientifically sound but also deeply aligned with your personal history and goals. You can learn more about our comprehensive program here: The BLISS Protocol.

What to Expect During Your First Phase

Our process is designed to be transparent, collaborative, and empowering. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the Beata Lewis, MD testing process:

1. Initial Consultation: Your journey starts with a comprehensive deep-dive session with Dr. Lewis. This is where we listen to your story, understand your goals, and determine which lab tests will be most valuable for you.
2. Lab Testing: We provide you with the necessary test kits (many of which can be done from the comfort of your home) and clear instructions.
3. Personalized Review Session: Once your results are in, you’ll have a dedicated session to review them in detail. We’ll explain what each marker means and how it connects to the symptoms you’re experiencing.
4. Treatment Roadmap: Together, we’ll co-create your initial treatment roadmap. This is your personalized plan, integrating recommendations for nutrition, supplements, lifestyle, and, if appropriate, medication.

Why Working With Dr. Beata Lewis Makes a Difference

In the complex world of integrative medicine, experience and expertise matter. Dr. Beata Lewis brings over 20 years of clinical excellence to her practice. As a Harvard-trained, dual board-certified psychiatrist in both adult and child psychiatry, as well as integrative medicine, she possesses a rare ability to bridge the worlds of conventional neuroscience and holistic functional medicine.

Her practice, based in Brooklyn and available via telehealth, is designed for patients who are ready to go beyond temporary fixes. If you’re looking for a holistic psychiatrist in NYC who is grounded in evidence-based care and committed to finding root-cause answers, you are in the right place. This is a partnership for those ready to do the deeper work to achieve lasting wellness.

Ready to Find Answers in Your Labs?

When you understand your own biology, you can finally stop guessing and start healing. Lab testing provides the clarity and confidence you need to take control of your mental health and move toward a brighter, more balanced future. Personalized psychiatry care is not a futuristic concept; it’s available now.

If you are ready to end the cycle of trial-and-error and get a clear, data-driven plan tailored to you, we invite you to take the next step.

Schedule your consultation to get a personalized mental health lab testing plan and begin your journey toward healing.