Psychiatrists

Psychiatrist

Occupation
Names
Pronunciation
Occupation type	Profession
Activity sectors	Health care, Mental health
Specialty
Competencies	Medical knowledge, patient care, interpersonal skills
Education required	Medical school, Residency in psychiatry

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are trained to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems. People seek psychiatric help for many reasons. The problems can be sudden, such as a panic attack, frightening hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, or hearing "voices." Or they may be more long-term, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiousness that never seem to lift or problems functioning, causing everyday life to feel distorted or out of control.

Education and Training

Becoming a psychiatrist requires extensive education and training. After earning an undergraduate degree, aspiring psychiatrists must complete four years of medical school to obtain an M.D. or D.O. degree. Following medical school, they must undergo four years of residency training in psychiatry. Some psychiatrists pursue further subspecialty training in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychosomatic medicine.

Responsibilities

Psychiatrists use a variety of treatments – including various forms of psychotherapy, medications, psychosocial interventions, and other treatments (such as electroconvulsive therapy or ECT), depending on the needs of each patient.

Certification

In many countries, psychiatrists must be certified by a professional board. In the United States, for example, psychiatrists are certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. They must pass a written and, in some cases, an oral examination administered by the board.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Psychiatrists, like all medical professionals, are bound by a set of ethical guidelines and legal regulations to ensure patient confidentiality and the highest standard of medical care. These guidelines are enforced by medical boards and professional societies that oversee the practice and progression of psychiatry as a field.

Challenges and Rewards

The work of a psychiatrist can be highly challenging given the complexity of the disorders treated and the depth of understanding required of both the mind and body. However, the field also offers significant rewards, including the potential to make profound differences in patients' lives.

See Also

• Clinical psychology
• Neurology
• Mental health professional