Psychiatry
PSYCHIATRY
The American Psychiatric Association (2019) defines Psychiatry as the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health, including substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems.
There are several specialty areas within psychiatry.
Reference
American Psychiatric Association. (2019). What is psychiatry. Retrieved from What Is Psychiatry?
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
The child and adolescent psychiatrist, is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and the treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling and/or behavior affecting children, adolescents, and their families. A child and adolescent psychiatrist offers families the advantages of a medical education, the medical traditions of professional ethics, and medical responsibility for providing comprehensive care (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2019).
- Uses a knowledge of biological, psychological, and social factors in working with patients.
- Conducts comprehensive diagnostic examinations to evaluate the current problem with attention to its physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social components.
- Diagnoses patients
- Shares diagnoses with patients and families.
- Designs treatment plans and discusses recommendations with the child or adolescent and family.
- Conducts individual, group, or family psychotherapy
- Prescribes medication
- Consults with other physicians or professionals from schools, juvenile courts, social agencies or other community organizations.
- Advocates for the best interests of children and adolescents.
- A Bachelor’s degree earned at an accredited college or university. Although no specific major is required, students usually complete undergraduate work in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English.
- Complete medical school
Note* After graduation from medical school, a graduate must pursue a state license to practice medicine (American Psychiatric Association, 2019)
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists must:
- Pass a written examination for a state license to practice medicine
- Complete at least 3 years of approved residency in medicine, neurology, and general psychiatry with adults
- After completing residency training, most psychiatrists take a voluntary written and oral examination given by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become a “board certified” psychiatrist
- Complete 2 years of specialized training in psychiatric work with children, adolescents, and their families in an accredited residency in child and adolescent psychiatry
- The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. offers certification in the subspecialty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Note* You can find more information about Addiction Psychiatry certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology here: https://www.abpn.com/
The median salary for psychiatrists as of March 2018 is $220,380
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2019). What is child and adolescent psychiatry. Retrieved from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Medical_Students_and_Residents/Medical_Students/What_is_Child_and_Adolescent_Psychiatry.aspx
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
https://www.abpn.com/
American Psychiatric Association. (2019). Psychiatric training. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291066.htm#(5)
Addiction Psychiatrists
Addiction psychiatrists identify concurrent psychiatric and substance use problems in individuals seeking treatment for either or both conditions.
- Evaluate client’s mental health and physical wellness
- Analyze addictions and behavioral problems
- Determine how open a client is to different treatment interventions
- Develop treatment plans and goals
- Help clients develop necessary skills to overcome their addictive behaviors
- Identify habits or behaviors that may interfere with recovery
- A Bachelor’s degree earned at an accredited college or university. Although no specific major is required, students usually complete undergraduate work in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English.
- Complete medical school
Note* After graduation from medical school, a graduate must pursue a state license to practice medicine (American Psychiatric Association, 2019)
Addiction Psychiatrists must:
- Pass a written examination for a state license to practice medicine
- Complete four years of psychiatry residency
- After completing residency training, most psychiatrists take a voluntary written and oral examination given by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become a “board certified” psychiatrist.
- Addiction psychiatrists complete additional specialized training after their four years of general psychiatry training.
- The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. offers certification in the subspecialty of Addiction Psychiatry
Note* You can find more information about Addiction Psychiatry certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology here: https://www.abpn.com/
The median salary for psychiatrists as of March 2018 is $220,380
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
American Psychiatric Association. (2019). Psychiatric training. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. (2019). About addiction psychiatry. Retrieved from https://www.aaap.org/clinicians/education-training/about-addiction-psychiatry/
Chron. (2019). Job description for an addiction psychologist. Retrieved from https://work.chron.com/job-description-addiction-psychologist-19144.html
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291066.htm#(5)
Community Psychiatrist
- Participate in research to develop and implement programs that benefit the community
- Contact local leaders and organizations to work collaboratively on addressing the most pressing issues facing members of the community
- Work with highly specific groups in controlled settings: devise programs to boost social skills, organize educational programming to benefit residents of the community
- Work with government agencies to develop health-promotion programs for specific communities
- A Bachelor’s degree earned at an accredited college or university. Although no specific major is required, students usually complete undergraduate work in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English.
- Complete medical school
Note* After graduation from medical school, a graduate must pursue a state license to practice medicine (American Psychiatric Association, 2019)
Community Psychiatrists must:
- Pass a multi-step exam that begins during medical school (U.S. Medical Licensing Examination or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination)
- Obtain certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
The median salary for psychiatrists as of March 2018 is $220,380
American Association of Community Psychiatrists https://sites.google.com/view/aacp123/home
American Psychiatric Association. (2019). Psychiatric training. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary. (2019). Medical dictionary. Retrieved from https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/community+psychiatry
Psychology School Guide. (2019). Community psychologist careers. Retrieved from https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/psychology-careers/community-psychologists/
Study.com. (2019). Psychiatrist education requirements, prerequisites, and career info. Retrieved from https://study.com/psychiatrist.html
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291066.htm#(5)
