What They Do
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and managing mental health conditions. As physicians, psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication and consider both biological and psychological factors in a person's mental health, which distinguishes their training from that of psychologists, who typically focus on therapy-based approaches and don't prescribe medication.
What They Treat
Psychiatrists manage a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other conditions affecting mood, thought, and behavior. Many psychiatrists work closely alongside psychologists and other mental health professionals, combining medication management with therapy-based approaches as part of a broader treatment plan.
Training Path
Becoming a psychiatrist requires completing a medical degree, followed by dedicated residency training specifically in psychiatry, covering both the medical and psychological aspects of mental health conditions. Some psychiatrists pursue further fellowship training in a specific area, such as child and adolescent psychiatry, or addiction psychiatry.
When to See One
People are commonly referred to a psychiatrist for persistent or significant mental health symptoms that affect daily functioning, or when a condition may benefit from medication in addition to or instead of therapy alone. Psychiatrists are also often involved in managing more complex mental health conditions that require closer, ongoing medical oversight.
Background
Psychiatry developed as a distinct medical specialty over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, evolving considerably from earlier, more limited approaches to mental illness toward a field grounded in a growing scientific understanding of brain function and behavior. The development of psychiatric medications in the mid-20th century marked a particularly significant turning point, giving psychiatrists new tools to directly treat many mental health conditions alongside therapeutic approaches.