How to become A Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are mental health physicians who help their patients look inside themselves and awaken. They diagnose and treat mental illnesses through a combination of personal counseling (psychotherapy), psychoanalysis, medication, and hospitalization.

• Mental Health Physician
• Mental Disorder Physician
• Mental Health Professional

What do Psychiatrists do?

A Psychiatrist would typically need to:

• Specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental health disorders, such as dementia, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia
• Work with patients by reviewing their mental and physical health, their background, and current environment, thoughts and past health issues, and any potential risk factors
• Take notes and keep detailed records of any interactions and decisions
• Decide on suitable psychiatric treatment plans for patients, including a mix of psychological, medical, and social interventions
• Prescribe medication when necessary; monitor and review treatment regularly
• Work closely with or lead a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, including psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and occupational therapists
• Supervise and teach junior medical staff, depending on their post
• Carry out research and keep up to date with new information relevant to their field

Psychiatrists in private practice work in quiet, peaceful settings where their patients can feel at ease. Traveling to and from work would depend on the location of the workplace.

The dress code of a Psychiatrist would vary depending on the specialization and the type of medical facility where they work. Patients feel most comfortable with health professionals who wear business casual or conservative clothing.

Most Psychiatrists put in long workdays, averaging 55 hours a week. Those who work in hospitals and clinics may keep more regular hours than private practitioners who set their own schedules. Psychiatrists may work evenings or weekends, if necessary. While on call, they may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to a hospital or nursing home. Part-time work is a feasible option.

The hallmark of a Psychiatrist's career is diversity and flexibility. Although some Psychiatrists prefer working only in one setting, most work in several areas, combining, for instance, a private practice with hospital or community mental health center work.

Psychiatrists are generally employed by:

• General Hospitals
• Psychiatric Hospitals
• Private Hospitals
• Government Mental Hospitals
• Medical Schools
• Community Health Centers
• Government Health Agencies
• Courts
• Correctional Facilities
• Health Maintenance Organizations
• University Medical Centers
• Industries
• Armed Forces
• Nursing Homes

Professional associations and organizations are crucial for Psychiatrists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• A high possibility of physical risk while working with challenging patients who are under severe strain
• Stress due to the suffering they see every day and the lack of time for self-care
• Communicating with a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals
• Lack of independence in group settings

Before applying for a medical degree, it helps gain work experience, either paid or voluntary, in areas relevant to medicine. This could be at a local hospital, nursing home, or mental health trust or through work shadowing a doctor.

After medical school, almost all graduates enter a residency program in their specialty of interest. A residency usually occurs in a hospital and varies in duration, generally lasting from 3-7 years.

Aspiring Psychiatrists must have an accredited degree in medicine that usually takes five years to complete. In-depth knowledge of physiology, anatomy, psychology, pharmacology, and mental health law is mandatory.

Then they must enroll in a residency program in psychiatry and, upon successful completion, receive board certification by taking an exam. The duration of residency in psychiatry varies depending on the country, but it may take between four and six years.

Some locations offer a slightly different route. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a science subject other than medicine, you may apply for a four-year accelerated medical graduate entry program.

All medical graduates must then undertake two years of foundation training where they work in a hospital as a junior doctor on a rotational basis in different departments, including psychiatry. A six-year training in psychiatry follows, split into three years each of core and higher training. It is becoming increasingly common to undergo a five-year “dual training” in two areas of specialty rather than three years in one area.

After completing their MD, all Psychiatrists must pass a licensing test administered by the local board of medical examiners in the country they wish to practice. To qualify for a license, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school and complete residency training in their specialty. They will also need to pass a written and oral test to become certified Psychiatrists.

Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain professional credibility, encourage renewal, and become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. The reassurance that members who practice outside the Code will be investigated and held accountable earns the community’s trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a Psychiatrist's future.

Performance, experience, and acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Psychiatrists find numerous opportunities to work in the private sector or set up their practice. At the moment, it is comparatively easy to progress in a psychiatric career. Most Psychiatrists advance in their careers by enlarging their knowledge and skills, clientele, and earnings.

As a Consultant, you will gradually gain more experience in your clinical duties and take on more responsibilities. You may have the opportunity to move into managerial roles, initially as a Medical Lead, then as a Clinical Director, and finally as a Medical Director.

Psychiatrists interested in teaching future doctors may become Director of Medical Education, Training Programme Director, or Associate Dean in charge of the entire training program. If you wish to take up a career in scientific research and academics, you will need to start early during your foundation training to mitigate the intense competition.

Opportunities for Psychiatrists in private practice and salaried positions are sound. Demand is excellent for child psychiatrists. Other specialties are also in short supply, especially in rural areas and public facilities.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the holistic commitment of a Psychiatrist towards enhancing personal skills and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. There are a whole host of CPD courses, seminars, and workshops to help professionals in the field.

CPD activities can include attending courses, conferences, meetings, and workshops and undertaking research and peer-reviewing journal papers. Additional postgraduate qualifications can be useful but are not essential. A career in academic research may need a PhD in an area of original research.

While physical illnesses can cause psychiatric disorders, many patients with mental illness are at greater risk of physical illness. Psychiatrists are trained to recognize psycho-physical symptoms, evaluate and assess risk, and draw up treatment plans that may include prescribing medication.

They may study child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, forensic (legal) psychiatry, administrative psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, psychiatry in general medical settings (called "consultation/liaison psychiatry" or psychosomatic medicine), mental retardation psychiatry, community psychiatry, and public health, military psychiatry, and psychiatric research. Some choose additional training in medical psychotherapy or psychoanalysis at psychoanalytic institutes. A Psychiatrist can opt for a model of medical practice from among the following alternatives.

Solo Practice

A small staff and a limited patient base usually characterize solo practice without partners or employment affiliations with other practice organizations. It allows the physician to design, grow, and develop a distinctive style of medical care.

On the flip side, medical care (such as the need to manage hospital care and weekend coverage for patients) and the entire business enterprise rests on the sole physician. Developing agreements with insurers and documentation for regulations involves considerable work.

Solo practices are often at substantial financial risk due to the costs of doing business, possible lack of referrals, the small patient base, shifting patient allegiances because of insurance issues, income loss caused by illness or vacation, and the extent of the physician’s educational debt.

Suburban or rural areas are often better suited to solo practice because of significant medical needs and less competition from medical resources. Some local hospitals affiliate with and support solo practices (financially or with access to electronic medical records) in maintaining their own patient base.

Group Practice

The group practice may comprise single-specialty or multi-specialty entities. The single-specialty practice comprises two or more physicians providing patients with a specific type of care (primary care or a particular sub-specialty practice). Multi-specialty group practices offer various types of medical specialty care under one roof.

Group practices enjoy increased financial security and better control of lifestyle. They may provide more employee benefits than are feasible in a solo practice, though often less than what may be available in organizations that employ physicians.

Group practices usually have the resources to manage the administrative tasks associated with running a practice, allowing the physician to focus more time and energy on patient care. They allow for distribution of clinical care in the hospital at nights and on weekends across a more significant number of people leading to more flexible scheduling than in a solo practice.

However, autonomy and decision-making ability decrease, increasing the risk of conflict around significant practice issues. Larger practices may also tend to become more bureaucratic and policy-driven.

Employed Physician Practice

Physicians may be employed within one of several practice models. Some hospitals may purchase and manage existing solo or group practices or may directly hire physicians to work in their inpatient facility or ambulatory clinics. Health-care corporations may own and run clinics with employed physicians.

Some physician-run groups are structured on an employment model. Group practice is structured more like a corporation that employs clinicians instead of pursuing a more traditional partnership model.

Much of the administrative responsibility of running a practice is shifted to the employing entity, allowing the physicians to focus more on practicing medicine. A baseline level of compensation is usually assured, although productivity demands and incentives may be significant. The organization usually has more resources than solo or independent group practices. There is more efficient coverage for clinical responsibilities, more efficient control of lifestyle, more robust support services, and further education and training opportunities.

The downside is that physician autonomy may be substantially diminished relative to other practice models. Scheduling and productivity may be beyond the physician’s control; others may develop policies and procedures. There may be less clinical flexibility due to limitations of referrals and facilities based on the employing organization. Serving on committees or participating in other organizational activities may be likely.

Other Types of Medical Practice

Some physicians work as independent contractors in a solo or group practice where the facility and possibly clinical coverage is shared with other physicians or physician groups. It may spread the costs of running a practice and may provide some flexibility in clinical scheduling. On the other hand, there is the loss of a degree of decision-making compared to a solo or small group practice.

Locum tenens (literally “place holder”) is an alternative to more permanent employment. Locum tenens positions are temporary (from a few weeks up to a year) offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organizations with an unfilled clinical need. The compensation rate is generally higher than what the permanent position would offer. Locum tenens allow physicians to gauge a specific type of practice or location without committing to long-term employment.

A meta-analysis of 34 studies found that patients were three times more likely to express a preference for psychotherapeutic solutions over medication.

Medicine, in general, and Psychiatry, in particular, is as mysterious and soulful as it is scientific. Psychiatry is what medicine needs more of - humanity, art, listening, and empathy.

Embark on personal psychotherapy to help understand yourself better, solve any problems you may have, correct biases based on your personality and experiences, and discover what it is like to be a patient.