Psychiatry

Nature of the work

Psychiatrists are the primary caregivers in the area of mental health. They assess and treat mental illnesses through a combination of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, hospitalization, and medication. Psychotherapy involves regular discussions with patients about their problems; the psychiatrist helps them find solutions through changes in their behavioral patterns, the exploration of their past experiences, or group and family therapy sessions. Psychoanalysis involves long-term psychotherapy and counseling for patients. In many cases, medications are administered to correct chemical imbalances that cause emotional problems. Psychiatrists also may administer electroconvulsive therapy to those of their patients who do not respond to, or who cannot take, medications. Psychiatrists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders, and adjustment disorders. The psychiatrist is able to understand the biologic, psychologic, and social components of illness, and therefore is uniquely prepared to treat the whole person. A psychiatrist is qualified to order diagnostic laboratory tests and to prescribe medications, evaluate, and treat psychologic and interpersonal problems, and to intervene with families who are coping with stress, crises, and other problems in living.¹

Psychiatrists can receive training in the following subspecialties:

Training/residency information

The residency training for psychiatry is four years. Up to two years of additional training are required to practice in one of the subspecialty areas.

Salary information

The annual salary for psychiatrists ranges from $173,800 to $248,198.²

For more information

• American Psychiatric Association
• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry