Psychiatrist 25004 225611012 2008-07-14T15:28:47Z BodhisattvaBot 6228552 robot Adding: [[yi:פסיכיאטער]] {{Otheruses}} {{redirect|Alienist|the 1994 crime novel|The Alienist}} A '''psychiatrist''' (also called '''alienist''') is a [[physician]] who specializes in [[psychiatry]] and is certified in treating [[mental disorders]].<ref name=APAWhatIs>American Psychiatric Association. (Unknown last update). ''What is a Psychiatrist''. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.healthyminds.org/whatisapsychiatrist.cfm</ref> As part of their evaluation of the patient, psychiatrists are one of only a few [[mental health professional]]s who may prescribe [[psychiatric medication]], conduct physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory tests and [[Electroencephalography|electroencephalogram]]s, and may order brain imaging studies such as [[computed tomography]] or computed axial tomography, [[magnetic resonance imaging]], and [[positron emission tomography]] scanning.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} == Psychiatry in the professional world == Psychiatrists are [[Doctor of Medicine|doctors]] of [[medicine]] who specialize in treating [[mental illness]] using the biomedical approach to mental disorders.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Psychiatrists can also go through training to conduct [[psychotherapy]], [[psychoanalysis]], and/or [[Cognitive therapy|cognitive behavioral therapy]], but it is their medical training that differentiates them from other mental health professionals.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} === Subspecialties === The field of psychiatry itself can be divided into various subspecialties.<ref name=UKReq /> These include: * [[Child and adolescent psychiatry]] * Adult psychiatry * [[Geriatric psychiatry]] * [[Learning disability]] * [[Behavioral medicine]] * [[Liaison psychiatry|Consultation-liaison psychiatry]] * [[Emergency psychiatry]] * Addiction psychiatry * [[Forensic psychiatry]] * Combined [[Internal Medicine]] and Psychiatry (Med-Psych) * Combined [[Family Medicine]] and Psychiatry * Combined [[Neurology]] and Psychiatry * Combined Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry Some psychiatric practitioners specialize in helping certain age groups; child and adolescent psychiatrists work with children and teenagers in addressing psychological problems.<ref name=UKReq /> Those who work with the elderly are called geriatric psychiatrists or geropsychiatrists.<ref name=UKReq /> Those who practice psychiatry in the workplace are called [[Industrial and organizational psychology|industrial psychiatrists]] in the US (occupational psychology is the name used for the most similar discipline in the UK).<ref name=UKReq /> Psychiatrists working in the courtroom and reporting to the judge and jury, in both criminal and civil court cases, are called [[forensic psychiatrist]]s, who also treat mentally disordered offenders and other patients whose condition is such that they have to be treated in secure units.<ref name=UKReq /><ref name=ABPNSubSpecial /> Other psychiatrists and mental health professionals in the field of psychiatry may also specialize in [[psychopharmacology]], [[neuropsychiatry]], [[eating disorder]]s, [[Psychosomatic illness|psychosomatics]], and early [[psychosis]] intervention.<ref name=UKReq /><ref name=ABPNSubSpecial>American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. (5 March 2007). ''ABPN Certification - Subspecialties''. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.abpn.com/cert_subspecialties.htm</ref> == Professional requirements == Typically the requirements to become a psychiatrist are substantial but differ from country to country.<ref name=UKReq>The Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2005). ''Careers info for School leavers''. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/training/careersinpsychiatry/careerbooklet.aspx</ref><ref name=USReq>Psychiatry.com (Unknown last update). ''Student Information''. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.psychiatry.com/student.php</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], and other parts of the world, one must complete a medical degree.<ref>[http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/training/careersinpsychiatry/careerinfoforschoolleavers.aspx Careers info for School leavers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> These degrees are often abbreviated [[Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery|MB BChir, MB BCh, MB ChB, BM BS, or MB BS]]. Following this, the individual will work as a [[Foundation House Officer]] for two additional years.<ref name=UKReq /> The [[Foundation House Officer|foundation programme]] allows students to experience the different specialties of medicine, as well as learn important attributes and qualities of becoming a doctor.<ref name=UKReq /> Upon completion, a student can apply for a [[Specialty Registrar|Specialty Registrar (StR)]] in Psychiatry post to specialize in psychiatry.<ref name=UKReq /> Following acceptance, this specialized training will last for about 6 years, during which time the doctor must pass examinations for Membership of the [[Royal College of Psychiatrists]] (MRCPsych). Upon successful completion of this specialist training, the doctor can then apply for Consultant posts. In the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] one must first complete their [[Bachelor's degree]], or in [[Québec]] complete a premedical course of study in [[Cégep]].<ref name=USReq /> Students may typically decide any major of their choice, however they must enroll in specific courses, usually outlined in a [[Pre-medical|pre-medical program]].<ref name=USReq /> One must then apply to and attend 4 years of [[medical school]] in order to earn their [[Doctor of Medicine|M.D.]] or [[Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine|D.O.]] and to complete their [[Medical education in the United States|medical education]].<ref name=USReq /> Following this, the individual must practice as a [[Residency (medicine)|psychiatric resident]] for another four years (five years in Canada). Psychiatry residents are often required to complete at least four post-graduate months of internal medicine or pediatrics and two months of neurology during the first year.<ref name=USReq /> After completing their training, psychiatrists take written and then oral board examinations.<ref name=USReq /> The total amount of time required to complete post-baccalaureate work in the field of psychiatry in the United States is typically 8 to 9 years. == See also == {{columns |width = 22em |col1 = *[[Psychiatry]] *[[Mental health professional]] *[[Mental illness]] *[[Mental health]] |col2 = *[[Medicine]] *[[Psychology]] *[[Clinical psychology]] |col3 = *[[Psychologist]] *[[List of famous figures in psychiatry]] *[[List of psychiatrists]] }} == Further reading == * American Psychiatric Association. (2000). ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR Fourth Edition''. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing. * Frances, A., & First, M. (1999). ''Your Mental Health: A Layman's Guide to the Psychiatrist's Bible''. New York: Scribner. * Hafner, H. (2002). Psychiatry as a profession. ''Nervenarzt'', 73, 33. * Stout, E. (1993). ''From the Other Side of the Couch: Candid Conversations with Psychiatrists and Psychologists''. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. == Notes == {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.psych.org/ American Psychiatric Association] * [http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/ Royal College of Psychiatrists] {{Psychiatry}} [[Category:Mental health professionals]] [[Category:Psychiatry]] [[da:Psykiater]] [[de:Psychiater]] [[fr:Psychiatre]] [[hr:Psihijatar]] [[id:Psikiater]] [[he:פסיכיאטר]] [[hu:Pszichiáter]] [[nl:Psychiater]] [[no:Psykiater]] [[nn:Psykiatar]] [[fi:Psykiatri]] [[sv:Psykiater]] [[yi:פסיכיאטער]]