Psychiatric

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behavior, cognition, and perceptions. Initial psychiatric assessment of a person typically begins with a case history and mental status examination. Physical examinations and psychological tests may be conducted. On occasion, neuroimaging or other neurophysiological techniques are used.

History

Psychiatry as a medical discipline can be traced back in the early medieval period of Islamic history (8th–15th centuries) where several mental hospitals were built in medieval Islamic societies. In the modern age, the field is said to have begun in the late 18th century, after the French Revolution with the work of Philippe Pinel. The term psychiatry was first coined by the German physician Johann Christian Reil in 1808.

Approaches

Psychiatric treatments have changed over the past several decades. In the past, psychiatric patients were often hospitalized for six months or more, with some cases involving hospitalization for many years. Today in most developed countries, people receiving psychiatric treatment are more likely to be seen as outpatients. If hospitalization is required, the average hospital stay is around one to two weeks, with only a small number receiving long-term hospitalization.

Criticism

Psychiatry has faced significant criticism from sources including some former patients, members of the movement for human rights in mental health, and medical professionals. These critics argue that psychiatry's reliance on a medical model is flawed and that psychiatry's labeling of certain individuals as "mentally ill" can lead to harm and discrimination.

See also

• Clinical psychology
• Psychotherapy
• Psychopharmacology
• Neurology

References

Psychiatric Resources
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