CBC (Complete Blood Count) can be a valuable tool in psychiatric clinics for several reasons. Here's how you can make use of it:

1. Rule out medical causes:
   • Anemia (low hemoglobin) can cause fatigue, weakness, and cognitive issues that may mimic depression.
   • Infections, indicated by elevated white blood cell count, can sometimes present with psychiatric symptoms.
2. Medication monitoring:
   • Some psychiatric medications can affect blood cell counts. For example, clozapine can cause agranulocytosis.
   • Lithium can sometimes cause leukocytosis.
3. Substance abuse detection:
   • Chronic alcohol use can lead to macrocytosis (enlarged red blood cells).
   • Intravenous drug use might show signs of infection or inflammation.
4. Nutritional status:
   • Low red blood cell count or hemoglobin might indicate nutritional deficiencies common in some psychiatric conditions.
5. General health assessment:
   • As part of a comprehensive workup, especially in new patients or those with comorbid medical conditions.
6. Differential diagnosis:
   • Certain medical conditions that can present with psychiatric symptoms (e.g., thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency) may show abnormalities in CBC.
7. Baseline evaluation:
   • Before starting certain medications that require regular blood monitoring.

While CBC alone is not diagnostic for psychiatric conditions, it's an important part of a thorough evaluation and can help ensure that underlying medical issues are not overlooked in psychiatric patients.

Would you like more information on interpreting specific CBC results in a psychiatric context?