What does a psychiatrist treat?
There are over 200 classified types of mental health disorders. Below are a list of the most common conditions a psychiatrist treats:
What treatment methods are used by psychiatrists?
There are a variety of different treatments used but it depends on the condition the patient has. These can include:
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Psychosocial interventions
- Medication e.g. antidepressants or antipsychotics
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Psychotherapeutic treatment e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Psycho-educational interventions
What subspecialties are included under psychiatry?
There are three sub-specialties of general psychiatry:
- Substance Misuse Psychiatry – specialises in psychiatry related to patients who use or are addicted to drugs.
- Liaison Psychiatry – this specialises in psychiatry within a general medical setting, such as a hospital. The role of the psychiatrist here is to provide psychiatric care to medical patients.
- Rehabilitation Psychiatry – this specialises in the restoration of an individual diagnosed with a mental health disorder to the community.
When should you see a psychiatrist?
When a mental health disorder, such as
anxiety or
depression, becomes so bad that it
impacts your daily life, it’s probably time to see a psychiatrist to get a proper diagnosis. In addition, if you or your support network believe your condition poses
a risk to you or others around you, you must see a specialist and have an evaluation. Your GP will normally refer you to a psychiatrist in these cases. After proper diagnosis, you might begin treatment with the psychiatrist or your GP can manage it for you.