ABOUT ME

Prof Renata Schoeman (MBChB, MSocSc, MMed, FC Psych, PhD, MBA, PgDip Futures Studies)  has been in full-time private practice since 2008. She practises as a general psychiatrist (child, adolescent and adult psychiatry) and has special interests in cognition (i.e. disorders affecting attention, concentration, learning and memory – such as ADHD and dementia), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and obesity), mood disorders and anxiety disorders.

Renata also holds appointments as associate professor: Leadership, as well as head of the Healthcare Leadership MBA specialization stream (University of Stellenbosch Business School) and as a virtual faculty member of University of Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development’s programme. She is actively involved in student supervision, various research projects, training of general practitioners and peers, and community lectures. She serves on the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health (South Africa), on advisory boards of various pharmaceutical companies, and is the convenor of the South African Society of Psychiatrist (SASOP) special interest group for adult ADHD. She has served as a director of the Psychiatry Management Group (PsychMg) from 2016-2023. Renata is a co-founder and director of the Goldilocks and The Bear Foundation (www.gb4adhd.co.za).

Renata is frequently asked to provide second opinions and does extensive medico-legal work. She frequently attends, and contributes to, both national and international congresses and has published in various journals. During her post-graduate studies, she trained for a period at Harvard, Boston in neurocognition and neuroimaging.

She is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as well as the General Medical Council (UK). She is a member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), the Psychiatric Management Group (PsychMG), the Women Presidents’ Organization, the Association for NeuroPsychoEconomics, the World Federation of Biological Society and the American Psychiatric Association.

PSYCHIATRIC ASSISTANCE

What is psychiatry?

Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders such as mood disorders (e.g. depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders, cognitive disorders (e.g. concentration and memory problems, which include dementia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), psychotic disorders (e.g. psychosis), eating disorders (e.g. bulimia and anorexia), and substance abuse disorders.

Mental disorders are diagnosed in accordance with criteria listed in diagnostic manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), edited and used by the World Health Organization. Diagnosis is not done to “label” an individual, but to enable accurate and thorough treatment according to recognised guidelines.

What is a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a qualified medical doctor who has obtained additional qualifications to become a specialist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness and emotional problems. Psychiatrists view illness in an integrated way by taking into consideration the related aspects of the body, the brain, and the mind.

How can we help you?

Prof Renata Schoeman does clinical assessments of children, adolescents, and adults for diagnostic and treatment purposes. She also provides second opinions and is available for medico-legal work.

She is highly experienced in treating

• Cognitive disorders (such as ADHD and dementia)
• Eating disorders (such as bulimia, anorexia and obesity)
• Mood disorders (such as major depressive disorder and bipolar mood disorder)
• Anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Neuropsychiatric disorders and fibromyalgia
• Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)

Approach

Prof Renata Schoeman strongly believes in a holistic (bio-psycho-social) approach: medication is not the only answer! Thoroughly assessing the patient and their problem in the context of their medical and psychological history and present circumstances is integral to the patient’s mental wellbeing.Patients are active participants in the process of healing and personal responsibility is encouraged. Compliance with medication is important, but a healthy lifestyle, addressing the life stressors, and psychotherapy is strongly recommended. Patients can be treated as outpatients, or admitted to hospital if need be. She believes in individualised care – no two patients are alike.

ACADEMIC PROJECTS

Prof Renata Schoeman is academically active with extensive involvement in training of students, general practitioners, peers, and allied healthcare professionals. She is passionate about corporate mental health awareness and uses her neuroscience background to assist leaders in equipping them to become balanced, healthy and dynamic leaders that take their own and their team’s emotional, intellectual, social health and physical needs into account. She enjoys research and collaborative work, has published in many peer-reviewed journals, and has presented at local and international congresses. She is regularly invited to present at conferences and to engage with the media. Renata is available for corporate training, educational presentations, and workshops on mental health issues, neuroscience, and leadership.

Research experience and interests

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Corporate mental health awareness, including the prevention and management of burnout
The neuroscience of leadership
Pain and depression
Genetics, depression and nutrition
Neuropsychological functioning of traumatised adolescents
Cognition and facial processing in schizophrenia
Bilingualism and psychosis
HIV neuropsychology
Depression in brain tumours
Social anxiety disorders
Clinical trials: various psychiatric disorders