What is a Youth Psychiatrist?
A youth psychiatrist specializes in diagnosing and treating mental and emotional problems in adolescent patients, normally from the age of puberty to adulthood. Teenagers have their own characteristic set of problems, and this period of life is vital in setting the stage for the transition to adulthood.
There are six main groups of psychiatric disorders that adolescent youths are prone to:
Other problems that teenagers can fall victim to are substance abuse, parental abuse, gang membership and various other emotional issues. Youth psychiatrists are better equipped to deal with these problems than psychiatrists with a different specialty are.
Psychiatrists can run any of several standardized tests to diagnose a youth; but such tests should ideally only be used a starting point in the diagnosis, because each youth has individualized problems and situations. The standardized tests don’t consider sociological factors like family, friends and school environment.
There are seven main types of psychiatric treatment for youths:
Psychiatrists, unlikepsychologists, are licensed physicians who can prescribe and administer pharmaceuticals, admit patients to hospitals, and order lab tests or diagnostic studies.
Youth psychiatrists often work as part of a team with other professionals who serve the same patient, like psychologists, social workers, school administrators, guidance counselors, nurses, physical therapists, correction officers, law enforcement officers and physicians. Psychiatrists also sometimes work with officials from governmental agencies or the court system.
What is the Work Environment for a Youth Psychiatrist?
Youth psychiatrists can work in many settings, including juvenile rehabilitation centers, juvenile courts, drug centers, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient care facilities, clinics or schools. They can also go into a private practice and set up their own office.
What are the Requirements to Become a Youth Psychiatrist?
Education
Psychiatrists are required to go through medical school. Candidates must get good grades in high school and college to have a chance at entering med school. College coursework is largely composed of biology, physiology, physics, chemistry, psychology and other sciences.
The normal course of education is four years of premedical undergraduate schooling and then four years of medical school, but some schools offer a program that combines undergraduate school and medical school into a six-year program.
Training
Once medical school is over, a youth psychiatrist must undergo three years of residency training in general medicine and psychiatry for adult patients and, if that is successful, an additional two years working with youths.
Psychiatrists must continue their education and training as long as they are in practice, staying abreast of current developments in psychiatry and general medicine.
Licensing and/or Certification
Necessary Skills and Qualities
What are the Opportunities for Advancement?
There is a severe worldwide shortage of youth psychiatrists, especially in rural or poor areas, so getting enough work shouldn’t be a problem, even for those who want to start a private practice. But there aren’t many chances for advancement, because psychiatry is near the top of the ladder. Jobs in administration might also be available.
