What do psychiatrists do?
Psychiatrists listen and talk to patients about their mental, emotional or behavioral problems and assess the status of these disorders. They study both the medical and mental background of the patient. They may prescribe medications, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy or psychological counseling in accord with the patients needs. They may order laboratory tests, imaging, assessment tests or other diagnostic procedures. Psychiatrists analyze the data from these assessment tools with reference to direct observations of the patient in counseling or therapy sessions either group or individual. Psychiatrists can expect to have regular work hours in reasonably comfortable physical settings. The severity of clients responses and the amount of cases may generate stressful situations.
The CPA defines psychiatrists as physicians who “enhance the person’s quality of life by providing psychiatric assessment, treatment and rehabilitation care to people with psychiatric disorders in order to prevent, reduce and eliminate the symptoms and subsequent disabilities resulting from mental illness or disorder”. The UK College of Psychiatrists states, “Psychiatrists are informed and uniquely skilled in the integration of medicine, psychiatry, neuroscience and the psychosocial sciences”. The psychiatrist is trained primarily as a clinician to diagnose, treat and provide ongoing care for mental disorders to patients of all ages. Psychiatrists are primary, secondary and tertiary care physicians. Psychiatrists not only provide direct care to patients but often act as consultants to other health professionals such as family doctors. Psychiatrists work in a range of settings including psychiatric or general hospitals, private offices, research units, community health centres, social a
