Bethesda Women's Mental Health

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Dr. Madhu Rao is an adult psychiatrist who is experienced in treating Anxiety, Mood Disorders, OCD and Alcohol Use Disorder. Dr. Rao is regarded by her patients as a physician who takes a compassionate and comprehensive approach to their mental health and well being. She works with patients, their families and other care providers to create evidence-based individualized treatment plans to meet their goals. Her integrative approach to care includes medication management, cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, sleep hygiene and nutrition.

 

Dr. Rao received her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in New York, NY.  She then went on to complete her psychiatry residency from University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.  Prior to her medical training, Dr. Rao earned an M.S. Computer Science at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN and had a successful career in the private sector.

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Dr. Rao has a special interest in women’s mental health. She understands the challenges women face as they juggle responsibilities of career, parenting and care-giving. She treats anxiety, mood disorders, alcohol use, cognitive difficulties and sexual dysfunction in women as they go through different hormonal stages in life including, infertility, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause. She takes her integrative approach to treatment as she educates patients about the effect of hormones, physical health and life style on overall well-being. She belongs to the National Task Force for Women’s Reproductive Mental Health, which is a collaboration of over thirty institutions nationwide. She contributed to the first digital curriculum in reproductive psychiatry and to the first edition of the American Psychiatric Association Publishing textbook of Women's Reproductive Mental Health (to be published in 2021). Dr. Rao offers community education programs on women’s mental health.

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