Nature of the Work

Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses including mental, addictive and emotional disorders. Mental illnesses, including addictions, are common. Like other medical illnesses, mental illnesses range from severe and life-threatening disorders, to relatively mild and self-limiting conditions.

 

Training/Residency Information

The residency for psychiatry is four years. Psychiatrists are trained to understand the biologic, psychologic and social components of illness in order to treat the whole person. Residents will receive training in general medical care (at least four months in internal medicine, family medicine and/or pediatrics), neurology (at least two months), and emergency care, in addition to at least 36 months of training in psychiatry. Up to two years of additional training are required to practice in one of the subspecialty areas.

Source: Association of American Medical Colleges