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]]