What is Psychiatry and Who Is Psychiatrist. Introduction
Sometimes, when fear and sorrow overwhelm us, even the open ear and honest advice of a dear friend is not enough to get us back on our feet.
When it comes to mental disorders, professional help is required. If psychotherapy, “the talk therapy” proves insufficient, a medical approach becomes necessary. This sets apart the role of a psychiatrist from that of a psychotherapist.
A person who has developed mental problems very often is not sure whether to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. Many people are not aware of the differences between those two specialists. The below article will help you choose the mental health professional that best meet your needs.
The Medical Field Psychiatry
Psychiatry is a medical field focusing on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental health disorders. What makes this field unique is its position bridging natural and social sciences. Psychiatry integrates knowledge from fields like biochemistry, physiology, and genetics with psychology, sociology, and philosophy. Such interdisciplinary approach is crucial as physical and mental illnesses often intersect or influence each other.
Who is Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor working in the field of psychiatry qualified to assess both, the physical and psychological aspects of mental health conditions.
A specialist in psychiatry, primary focus on cases involving mental illnesses caused by neurobiological changes in the brain. He approaches these changes from a medical perspective influencing them with medication. For instance, in case of severe depression, psychiatrist prescribes antidepressants. While counteracting a deficiency in the mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, antidepressants reduce or even remove the symptoms. Simultaneously, psychiatrist can apply psychotherapy himself or by referring the patient to a psychotherapist.
Difference between Psychiatrist and Psychologist
The main difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist is that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor specialized in the neurochemistry of the brain. He treats mental health disorders by prescribing medication which restores the imbalance of the neurotransmitters in the brain reducing or removing the symptoms. In contrary a psychologist uses the “talk” therapy, known as psychotherapy or counselling.
When Should One Seek a Psychiatrist?
The decision to consult a psychiatrist depends on the impact of mental health issues on your life. Don’t underestimate the importance of seeking help, as early intervention can prevent problems from worsening. Whether it’s a sudden crisis or a persistent struggle, reaching out to a psychiatrist is a crucial step towards mental well-being and personal growth.
Psychiatric disorders can arise suddenly, like panic attacks or distressing hallucinations. Other mental problems may appear gradually, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, eating disorders, generalized anxiety. U
nfortunately, many patients delay seeking treatment, often attempting to handle problems on their own before realizing the need for professional help. Knowing when it’s time to seek professional help for mental health issues isn’t straightforward.
No Psychiatric Problem Is Insignificant
Firstly, it’s essential to understand that no problem is too insignificant for a visit to a psychiatrist. If it disrupts your daily life, it’s significant enough for treatment. Even if it doesn’t seem like a major issue, if you can’t resolve it independently, consulting a psychiatrist might be the right choice. Perhaps a single session could offer guidance, potentially eliminating the need for ongoing therapy. Why endure prolonged suffering when addressing the problem promptly can prevent it from escalating?
For more serious issues from the start, early intervention is crucial. In any case, scheduling an initial consultation is a wise step. During this session, you can discuss your concerns with the psychiatrist and, if necessary, arrange further appointments.
Certain psychiatric conditions may manifest with physical symptoms, often managed by a primary care physician. However, the underlying cause may remain undiscovered if it’s rooted in mental health. If you suspect that your physical symptoms could have a psychological basis, consulting a psychiatrist is advisable.
For less severe issues, psychotherapy provides an opportunity to plan the next steps, discover personal goals, and work towards improving one’s life.
Becoming a Psychiatrist
To become a psychiatrist, candidates must first complete medical school and obtain a medical license. Subsequently, they undergo a specialized training program, with specific content determined by the medical boards in each country. During this period, they will spend a significant portion of training in inpatient psychiatric care, psychotherapy, and in some countries a mandatory training in neurology.
Beyond formal education, psychiatrists need resilience because the patients you encounter often present complex cases. Maintaining professional distance is vital to prevent carrying their work into their personal life.
The crucial characteristics needed in the field of psychiatry are patience and empathy as individuals suffering of mental illnesses rely on psychiatrist’s support and guidance. Additionally, psychiatrists should have an interest in understanding the neurobiological and chemical processes underpinning these disorders and treatment methods.
Psychiatric Residency
German board-certified psychiatrists Psychiatry is a very diversified field. In Germany, psychiatric hospitals can be specialized in the treatment of particular disorders, for example depressions or psychosomatic disorders, while others treat only people with addiction. Big hospitals in Germany have several wards specialized in the treatment of different psychiatric disorders.
German qualified psychiatrists meet rigorous requirements to be licensed to practice psychiatry. They must complete at least 5 years of postgraduate training. They initially work in certified hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders. This assures during their internship psychiatrists will deal with every possible condition. This exposure gives them the knowledge and experience to practice psychiatry and treat patients once they can work independently.
Obtaining the License in Psychiatry
To obtain the specialist license of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (“Facharzt in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapy”) in Germany, medical doctors (MDs) participate in the psychiatric training for minimum five years. The training must include at least one year in neurology. Since 1994 in Germany, psychotherapy has been integrated into the specialist training for psychiatrists, allowing them to provide psychotherapeutic treatment. To acquire the Board Certificate in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy the applicant must pass a state exam in both fields, psychiatry and psychotherapy. The psychotherapeutic approaches, include methods from cognitive-behavioral therapy and depth psychology.
Neurology as Part of Psychiatrist Curriculum
Psychiatry and Neurology are two intertwined disciplines. Using the simplified hardware-software model, the psyche can be compared to the software (psychic processes) running on the hardware (brain). While psychiatry deals with the “software”, the mental processess, neurology focuses on the “hardware,” the human brain, and the peripheral nervous system.
Some neurological disorders affecting the brain such as Multiple Sclerosis, Morbus Parkinson, strokes etc. can influence the psyche and create symptoms similar to psychiatric disorders. Training in psychiatry must give an aspiring psychiatrist at least a minimum of insight into neurology. Therefore, the training in neurology is an essential part of the German psychiatric curriculum.
Psychiatrist and His Work Enviroment
While encounter challenging cases, psychiatrist treats mental health issues across all segments of society. They work in private practices, specialty and general hospitals, university hospitals, or run their own practices.
The psychiatrist’s workplace can vary, including private practices, specialized and general hospitals as well as university hospitals. Psychiatrist’s working hours differ based on mental health sectors. In hospitals, psychiatrists may work weekends, nights, and on-call shifts. In a private practice, they can schedule the treatment hours, but often extend their availability into the evening to accommodate working patients. Flexibility is crucial, allowing psychiatrists to arrange appointments according to individual patient needs.
Furthermore there are career options within the field of psychiatry, including research and teaching, typically requiring a doctoral degree.
Psychiatric Sub-Specialities
In the field of psychiatry, the candidates have several opportunities to specialize after completing their specialist training. Options include adult psychiatry and child psychiatry. More specific sub-specialities are:
- child psychiatry,
- social psychiatry, which focuses on the sociology and epidemiology of mental disorders
- gerontopsychiatry, concentrating on mental illnesses in older adults
- pharmacopsychiatry, where medication-based treatment is the primary focus
- biological psychiatry, researching biological methods for addressing mental disorders
- addiction medicine, which deals with dependency cases
- forensic psychiatry, where treating mentally ill offenders
To obtain the sub-specialties licenses, psychiatrists need an additional training of varying durations, typically ranging from one to three years.
Psychiatrists and Use of Psychotherapy
The therapeutic toolkit of modern day’s psychiatrist encompasses psychotherapeutic approaches. For example, in Germany since 1994, psychotherapy has been an integral component of psychiatric specialization. This allows the psychiatrist to provide psychotherapeutic treatment to both private and public health insurance patients.
In the field of psychotherapy, psychiatrists can also choose specialization and focus areas for further training and practice. Options include behaviour therapy and psychoanalysis/depth psychotherapy, or gestalt therapy. These specializations allow them to tailor their expertise to specific therapeutic approaches and patient needs.
Psychiatric Intervention
The work of a psychiatrist revolves around cases where mental disorders intersect with physical illnesses or have neurobiological root causes. This intertwining of body and mind compels to approach these disorders from a medical perspective. For instance, in treating depression, the talk therapy (psychotherapy) can be not sufficient. In such situation people need treatment with antidepressants to address neurotransmitters imbalances in their brains. Psychiatrist might also assist individuals in coping with the psychological challenges of physical conditions like cancer.
People seek help of a psychiatrist for distinct reasons. The problems can appear suddenly, like in panic attacks, psychosis with frightening hallucinations or in mania with hyperactivity associated with elevated mood and frantic behaviour. The symptoms can also develop silently over long-term. Such examples could be depression with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or general anxiety with constantly present irrational fears. Other mental health disorders requiering psychiatric intervention are eating disorders such as anorexia and buliemia nervosa, and substance abuse.
Diagnosing and Treating Psychiatric Disorders
Psychiatrists deal with variety of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, neuroses, bipolar disorder, OCD, psychoses, eating disorders, and addictions. They possess knowledge of how mental illnesses develop, progress, and how they can be treated.
Through anamnesis, assessments, and diagnostic tests such as laboratory assessments, ECG’s, EEG’s, CT scans, or MRI’s psychiatrists identify the nature of a patient’s condition. At the end of the diagnostic process psychiatrists develop treatment plans coordinating the interactions between patients, their psychologists, and families.
After securing the diagnosis psychiatrist can apply a suitable treatment method.
Other important subject of psychiatric work is to detect signs of impending psychiatric disorders and take preventive measures.
What Is Psychiatry and Who Is Psychiatrist. Conclusion
Psychiatry is a medical speciality focused on the treatment of mental health disorders. It stands at the intersection of natural and human science, providing comprehensive care to those grappling with mental health challenges.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor working in the field of psychiatry qualified to assess both, the physical and psychological aspects of mental health conditions.
The field of psychiatry encompasses several subspecialities. The most common subspecialities are the adult psychiatry followed by child psychiatry. More specific are gerontopsychiatry, treating elderly patients and forensic psychiatry dealing with mentally ill offenders.
Becoming a psychiatrist requires completing medical training and specialized education. Other crucial characteristics are personal qualities like resilience, empathy, and a deep interest in the neurobiological aspects of mental health.