Specialty5 min read
Psychiatry
A psychiatrist is a physician specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
According to the APA: psychiatry is "the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders", and a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who assesses the mental and physical aspects of a problem together. According to AMA FREIDA they treat disorders including schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety and substance-related disorders. MedlinePlus summarises it as "emotional or mental disorders".
The APA states that a psychiatrist can provide psychotherapy and prescribe medicines and other medical treatments, and that their treatment includes talk therapy and medicines (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, anxiolytics and stimulants) and interventional procedures for severe cases such as electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation. According to FREIDA about two-thirds of psychiatrists work in outpatient clinics and the rest in hospitals and day programmes. The two professional references (Grade 4) are descriptive and do not set treatment criteria; this page does not cover treatment guidelines for the disorders themselves. The treatment category is chosen with the doctor.
In one minute123
- What is it?
- The specialty of diagnosing, treating and preventing mental, emotional and behavioural disorders.
- Who is usually affected?
- People with psychological or behavioural symptoms such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, mood disorders or substance use.
- Acute or chronic?
- Psychological and physical assessment, then psychotherapy and/or medicines and/or procedures for severe cases, and follow-up.
- Main symptoms
- Depends on the disorder; this page does not list detailed symptoms.
- Red flags?
- Yes: thoughts of harming yourself or others call for seeking emergency help immediately (a conservative general warning).
- Preventable?
- Prevention is part of the definition of the specialty according to the APA; this page does not cover specific prevention advice.
What is it?
"The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders" (APA). According to FREIDA: a psychiatrist is a "doctor who specialises in diagnosing, treating and preventing mental illness and emotional problems", and is "the medical expert at the interface of mind, brain and body". MedlinePlus summarises it as "emotional or mental disorders".
Conditions it covers
According to the APA: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders and others. According to FREIDA: schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, substance-related disorders, gender identity disorders and adjustment disorders.
Related pages on this site: depression, the brain, the nervous system and neurology. The NIMH states that treatment of depression includes medicines, talk therapy and brain stimulation therapy. The references of this page did not name the nervous system; the link is based on the brain being a part of it.
FREIDA mentions in the neurology page "behavioural neurology and neuropsychiatry" as a subspecialty, and the ABPN shares certification for both specialties ("the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology"), but the two specialties are distinct; the neurologist, according to FREIDA, treats disorders of the brain and nervous system.
Common tests and procedures
According to the APA: the psychiatrist can order medical tests and carry out psychological assessments and combine them with the dialogue with the patient to make a treatment plan. Treatments include: psychotherapy ("talk therapy"), medicines (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, anxiolytics and stimulants), electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation for severe cases, and medicines are often prescribed with psychotherapy. The appropriate category is decided with the doctor; this page does not cover criteria for selection.
When to see one
According to the APA a psychiatrist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who can provide psychotherapy and prescribe medicines, unlike a psychologist who does not usually prescribe medicines in most US states. Their preparation takes about 12 years after high school for adult psychiatry and up to 14 years for child and adolescent psychiatry. According to FREIDA: four years of specialist training after medical school. These are American details.
Referral to the specialist is usually decided by the primary care provider according to the condition (MedlinePlus). This page does not cover detailed referral criteria.
When do you need urgent help?
Call emergency services now 998
Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.
Common questions
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
According to the APA a psychiatrist is a physician who provides psychotherapy and prescribes medicines and other medical treatments, whereas a psychologist usually focuses on psychotherapy and psychological testing and does not prescribe medicines in most US states. (Systems may differ in your country.)2
Questions for your doctor
- What is the diagnosis, and what symptoms indicate it?
- What are the treatment options (psychological, drug and others), and their benefits and risks?
- Could my condition have a physical cause that needs tests?
- How long is the treatment, and when is the follow-up?
- What do I do if symptoms worsen or I have thoughts of harming myself?
References
- 1AMA FREIDA. Psychiatry — specialty description. freida.ama-assn.org/specialty/psychiatryEducational & historical references · Accessed 2026-10-06
- 2American Psychiatric Association. What is psychiatry?. www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatryEducational & historical references · Accessed 2026-10-06
- 3NIMH. Depression. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depressionHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-06
- 4MedlinePlus. Types of health care providers. medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001933.htmHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-06
- 5AMA FREIDA. Neurology — specialty description. freida.ama-assn.org/specialty/neurologyEducational & historical references · Accessed 2026-10-06
- 6American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. About ABPN. www.abpn.com/about/Educational & historical references · Accessed 2026-10-06
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Change log
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Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.