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Home > CA Providers > Geriatric Psychiatrists
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Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD

Specializes in: Geriatric Psychiatry
University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures
Professional interests include: anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and more.
1550 Hotel Circle N. Suite 450
San Diego, CA 92108

Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD is a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA specializing in geriatric psychiatry. She graduated from University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures. Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD is affiliated with Mindpath Health.

View Doctor's Full Profile (619) 692-1581

Office Locations

11770 Bernardo Plaza Court Suite 370
San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 673-3360
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Mindpath Health

15373 Innovation Drive Suite 390
San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 673-3360
(858) 592-0884
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Mindpath Health

1550 Hotel Circle N. Suite 450
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 692-1581
(619) 692-1588
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Mindpath Health

277 Rancheros Drive Suite 301
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 471-4073
(760) 471-4078
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Some issues Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD can help you with:

Anxiety

Anxiety is a generic name given to a variety of conditions characterized by unusual amounts of fear and worry, especially unrealistic fears and tension. People who suffer from anxiety often are aware that their fears are irrational, but that knowledge does not make the feeling of being scared and anxious go away. To qualify as anxiety, symptoms must last for 6 months or more and interfere with the way a person lives their daily life. Some cases may be mild, where, for example, a person simply avoids certain situations. Other cases can be severe enough to be disabling.

Some of the specific conditions covered under the general label of anxiety include:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Phobias
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Social phobia
  • Panic disorder

Collectively, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues diagnosed in the United States -- even more common than depression. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, and it is extremely common for a person with anxiety to have another illness at the same time, such as depression, a physical illness, or substance abuse.

Treatment for anxiety usually involves medication and psychotherapy together. Medications used may include antidepressants (which also work for anxiety), anti-anxiety medications, or beta blockers (which can be used to control the physical symptoms of anxiety). Psychotherapy can be useful to teach patients new ways of thinking and reacting so that they can manage their feelings of worry and fear. Support groups can also be very effective for anxiety, and they can be a form of treatment themselves for social phobias. Stress management, relaxation techniques, and meditation all help reduce feelings of anxiety or of being out of control. Finally, having a strong support network of family and friends is an excellent way to help manage the difficulties of life with anxiety.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in children. Nine percent of children in the USA have been diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms, which include hyperactivity and difficulty maintaining focus or paying attention, can last into adulthood for some patients. Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed as girls, although experts don't know why this is.

There are three main types of ADHD:

  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive types show symptoms such as constant fidgeting, talking non-stop, touching everything, having trouble sitting still and waiting their turn, and interrupting others.
  • Predominantly inattentive types tend to be distracted, get bored and wander off during tasks, forget things or instructions, daydream, and appear not to be listening. This type is sometimes misdiagnosed because they are not hyperactive and there are fewer behavior issues.
  • Combined types show symptoms from both categories. This is actually the most common type of ADHD.

When diagnosing ADHD, it is important to rule out other issues that may be causing the symptoms. Seizure disorders, hearing loss, anxiety, and domestic problems are some examples of problems that can cause behaviors similar to those seen with ADHD.

Treatment can include stimulant medications, behavioral therapy to teach patients ways to navigate their world and control symptoms better, and accommodations at school or work. A structured environment (with lots of organization and well-defined rules) seems to help most kids with ADHD function at their best.

ADHD is mainly thought of as a disorder that affects children, but symptoms can last into adulthood for a third to half of those diagnosed. In adults, ADHD has similar symptoms as when it is seen in children: impulsive behavior, difficulty maintaining focus, being easily distracted, or a tendency to fidget. These symptoms can cause problems in a patient's careers and relationships. Additionally, adults with ADHD are at increased risk for substance abuse. Medications can be an important part of treatment for adults, as well as stress reduction techniques and organization skills training. Specialized ADHD coaches can help adults with ADHD manage their symptoms and succeed in all areas of their life.

Depression

Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."

Some common symptoms of depression include:

  • Feeling sad, guilty, empty or hopeless
  • Fatigue and a lack of energy and motivation
  • A loss of pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed
  • Unusual sleep or eating habits
  • Mental fog -- trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Physical aches and pains
  • Suicidal thoughts or a preoccupation with death

We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.

Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.

Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated as a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA during 2012 were mental health therapy, medication management and diagnostic evaluation.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

diagnostic evaluation 15
doctor visit 44
medication management 27
mental health therapy 139

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 186

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 20
Female 46
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 55
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 23
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2013

Hypertension 44
High Cholesterol 52
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 24
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 26
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated as a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA during 2014 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 234
hospital care 45
inpatient care 45

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 29
Female 52
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 66
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 25
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 39

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2014

Hypertension 40
High Cholesterol 43
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 22
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 14
Dementia 14
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 172

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 32
Female 82
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 92
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 54
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2015

Hypertension 33
High Cholesterol 37
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 19
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 23
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 180

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 20
Female 34
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 41
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 23
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2016

Hypertension 41
High Cholesterol 31
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 20
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated as a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 153
hospital care 86
inpatient care 86

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 21
Female 40
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 47
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 27

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2017

Hypertension 48
High Cholesterol 44
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 26
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 25
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated as a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 146
hospital care 99
inpatient care 99

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 19
Female 31
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 37
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 23

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2018

Hypertension 54
High Cholesterol 46
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 24
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 38
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated as a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 110
hospital care 123
inpatient care 123

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 12
Female 27
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 18

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2019

Hypertension 41
High Cholesterol 41
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 33
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 31
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 93

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 18
Female 29
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 31
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 20
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 16

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2020

Hypertension 45
High Cholesterol 57
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 23
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 23
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 160

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 13
Female 18
Age
From 65 to 74 15
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2021

Hypertension 52
High Cholesterol 58
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 139

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 11
Female 20
Age
From 65 to 74 16
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2022

Hypertension 61
High Cholesterol 68
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 97

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Age
From 65 to 74 11
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2023

Hypertension 50
High Cholesterol 54
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 93

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Age
From 65 to 74 14
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD in 2024

Hypertension 54
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 75
Chronic Kidney Disease 0
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 0
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated as a geriatric psychiatrist in San Diego, CA were mental health therapy, hospital care, inpatient care and diagnostic evaluation.

diagnostic evaluation 15
doctor visit 139
hospital care 88
inpatient care 88
mental health therapy 139

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD.

Gender
Male 15
Female 29
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 28
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 11
65 to 74 15

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD From 2012 - 2024

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD treated were depression, high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.

Hypertension 43
High Cholesterol 46
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 6
Depression 69
Chronic Kidney Disease 7
Asthma 1
Osteoporosis 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 15
Atrial Fibrillation 0
Dementia 1
Cancer 0

Education & Training

Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD graduated from University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures. She completed residency at University of Chicago Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the Specialty Boards: Psychiatry - American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology and has a state license in California.

Medical School: University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures

Residency: University of Chicago Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Specialty Boards: Psychiatry - American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology

Licensed In: California

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 264 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in San Diego, CA. 

4.8
Overall Rating
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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Irinel R. Chiriac, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Allergan Inc. $261 VRAYLAR
$261
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc $240 INVEGA SUSTENNA
$182 		INVEGA TRINZA
$46 		SPRAVATO
$12
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. $103 COBENFY
$103
Alkermes, Inc. $101 Aristada 1064mg
$60 		Aristada 882mg
$41
Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. $69 SUBOXONE SUBLINGUAL FILM
$69
Other $269 NeuroStar TMS Therapy
$50 		VIIBRYD
$40 		AUSTEDO
$36 		VRAYLAR
$24 		ABILIFY MAINTENA
$24 		Other
$95
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $926
Education $102
Honoraria $15

Biography

Dr. Irinel Chiriac, who practices in San Diego, CA and San Marcos, CA, is a medical specialist in geriatric psychiatry. Clinical interests for Dr. Chiriac include attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), stress management, and major depression. Dr. Chiriac is affiliated with Mindpath Health. She attended the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures for medical school and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Chicago for residency. She has a 5.0 out of 5 star average patient rating.

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