I think one of the best things a person could do is test for nutrient deficiencies before going on medication to find the root cause so the results won't be skewed from the pharmaceuticals.  

Don't get me wrong, psychiatric medications are huge blessing for many patients and work wonders and other times they are prescribed because the doctor didn't undercover an underlying imbalance.

The great news is that there are so many great things we can do with lifestyle, balancing gut bacteria, nutrients, and counseling.

Many people have little knowledge of orthomolecular psychiatry or the characteristics of certain biotypes including Histapenia, Histadelia, and Pyroluria.  This form of treatment was much more prevalent before the pharmaceutical industry took over but is still relevant today. Here's a quick overview of each type.. the chart is very generalized and focuses more on tendencies than diagnosis:

HISTAPENIA 

Consciousness: racing thoughts, thought disorder, hallucinations, and paranoia

Appearance: tendency to obesity, stubby fingers, plentiful hair

Physical Tendencies: slow metabolism, dental carries, low salivary flow, difficulty achieving orgasm, upper body pain, food and environmental allergies, no characteristic odor, animal foods often helpful

Lab Findings: low blood histamine and basophils, elevated hair and serum copper, low folate, over-methylation, metal metabolism disorder

Typical Treatments: B3 ,B5, B6, Vitamin C and B complex, selenium, Vitamin E, zinc, managanese, Omega 3's, B12, Folic acid, Histadine, Cycsteine, Choline, Valarian, and GABA

Contraindications: Copper, Methionine, and SAMe

HISTADELIA

Consciousness: blank mind, phobias, obsessions, compulsions

Appearance: lean build, elongated fingers, toes, scant hair

Physical Tendencies: fast metabolism, great teeth, headaches, sensitive to pain, seasonal and respiratory allergies, does better on a vegetarian diet

Lab Findings: elevated blood histamine and basophils, excess folate, under-methylated

Typical Treatments: B6, Vitamin C, niacinamide, calcium, zinc, manganese, Omega 3's, methionine, SAMe, inositol, St. Johns wort.

Contraindications: histadine and folic acid 

PYROLURIA

Consciousness: teenage amnesia, no dream recall, better contact with reality, insight, very susceptible to stress

Appearance: thin wrists, ankles, midsection weight, light nails or white spots, pale appearance

Physical Tendencies: fatigue, poor dental enamel, impotent, painful joints, splenic pain, allergies, difficulty with proteins, sweet (acteone) breath, morning nausea

Lab Findings: elevated elevated kryptopyrrole, low EGOT, high or low serum and hair zinc

Typical Treatments: B6, Vitamin C, B3 and B5, perhaps magnesium, zinc, manganese, and GLA