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The mental health field is expanding at a rapid rate. According to theWorld Health Organization, one in four people will suffer at some point in their lives from a mental health or neurological condition. As of 2017, roughly 450 million people across the world were living with a mental health condition causing disability.

While that’s a rather shocking number, it speaks to the huge need for qualified people who are committed to the field of mental health. It also translates into opportunity if you are looking to make a difference in the lives of others and would like to embark on a reliable career that will be demand for years to come. Whether your interest lies with children, teenagers, adults, the elderly, or sociocultural groups with specific mental health challenges, there is much you can do to help.

What Is Psychiatry?

To prescribe and/or dispense medication, psychiatrists need a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) to meet the legal guidelines to practice. Psychiatrists receive full medical training, including an intensive study of biological and life sciences, biochemistry, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, and pathology, while also engaging in the comprehensive study of psychological concepts, principles, theory and practice.

What Does a Psychiatrist Do?

Psychiatrists act as specialized physicians. They can order and perform tests, and use a variety of other assessment techniques to identify the underlying issue affecting a patient. A few common psychological assessments include the classic Rorschach test or simple talk therapy. Common medical assessments include the ordering of blood tests or CT scans.

Psychiatrists may also review family medical and psychological history, past experiences or traumas in the patient’s life, and recent events- all of which may contribute to their current mental state. Once they have a comprehensive picture of the factors impacting a patient’s physical and mental health, they can construct a diagnosis and craft a treatment plan.

A psychiatrist’s duties may vary significantly depending on their patient population and work setting, but some of the most common include:

These are not the only types of therapy, of course, but they represent a few of the most common techniques in the psychotherapy toolkit. Psychiatrists may use these with patients, meeting them just a few times a month or, in more intensive settings, several times a week. They augment these approaches through prescribing and administering medications. These include:

Most frequently, psychiatrists prescribe medications in tandem with therapy, but may sometimes opt for only one or the other. In rare cases, psychiatrists may prescribe electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a treatment performed under anesthesia that involves administering small amounts of current to the brain. This treatment is safe, and is credited with the reversal of many negative conditions through simple changes in brain chemistry.

Overall, the range and combination of psychiatric treatments is almost as varied as patients themselves, and a good psychiatrist will be able to determine what is best for any individual or group at the time of treatment.

Typical Work Environment & Occupational Challenges

While psychiatry can be a very rewarding profession, it can also be a challenging one. Psychiatrists often witness crippling human suffering, stemming from personal trauma. Psychiatrists also treat devastating mental disorders, which completely incapacitate a person or change them irreparably. These situations can become overwhelming if you’re not careful to maintain professional separation, and take steps to actively safeguard your own mental health and well-being.

However, psychiatrists also experience major triumphs. When they successfully work with a patient to restore cognitive function, cope with severe crisis, reduce anxiety, or find ways to manage congenital or genetic conditions, the satisfaction can be extremely rewarding (and validating of their career choice).

Psychiatrists work in a variety of settings, from their own private practice – in which they pay for their office or building – to hospitals, mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, military organizations, schools, nursing homes, and governmental institutions. Many psychiatrists work in multiple settings and travel to meet clients or consult with other medical professionals.

What Is the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

The main difference between psychiatry and psychology, as mentioned above, is medical training.Psychologistsundergo significant training as well, earning a master’s before they are allowed to practice and often earning a doctoral degree to enhance their knowledge and specialize in certain fields.

Psychiatrist Salary & Job Outlook

As of May 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that psychiatrists earn a median salary of$226,880– higher than family practitioners, physicians, surgeons, internists, and pediatricians.

Psychiatry Jobs & Job Description

The main job of a psychiatrist is to evaluate, treat and follow up with patients who are suffering from mental disorders. The role includes practicing psychotherapy and prescribing medication in tandem. A psychiatrist’s role requires that them to communicate effectively with other colleagues and medical professionals, and to explain complex medical issues in a plain, understandable manner when speaking to patients and their family members.

To do so effectively, you will need a thorough knowledge base and a wide variety of skills, including:

Many of these skills take time and practice to develop, and that’s okay. You will begin to gain these skills in school, then continue to hone them through residency and the life of your career.

Psychiatry Degrees, Education, and Training

To become a psychiatrist, you must first complete a bachelor’s program. This includes 4 years of study with a pre-medical focus, taking courses such as biology, chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, mathematics, physics, psychology and other social sciences. While you don’t have to earn your bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine, it helps to do so, because you will have already completed a long list of pre-requisites for medical school. Students also need to pass theMedical College Admission Test (MCAT)before applying.

Afterwards, you must complete residency. During this time, you receive the designation of a practicing physician, but require the oversight of a professional. This often takes place in a hospital, inpatient program or outpatient center where you will assess, diagnose and treat patients as you would when practicing on your own. Residency may extend between 2 and 4 years, and you may be required to take a test to officially complete it. Either way, most psychiatrists choose to take a written and oral exam through theAmerican Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, earning board certification. This must be retaken every 10 years.

If you wish to specialize further, you can complete addition coursework to focus on sleep medicine, children or adolescents, geriatric populations, pain management and more. Others choose to pursue Doctor of Philosophy degrees (PhDs), which will enable them to conduct in-depth research in their fields.

No matter which route you take, know that the path to psychiatry is long and sometimes difficult, but can be very rewarding. In addition to making a nice income, you will be helping people, which can have far reaching affects for the community you live in.

Psychiatry Organizations & Associations

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections forpsychiatristsis based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2023.

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