Psychiatrists are qualified doctors who look after patients with mental health problems. Patients may suffer from a range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, personality, behavioural or eating disorders, drug or alcohol problems, dementia, schizophrenia and learning disabilities.
Psychiatrists begin their work by assessing each patient’s condition. This involves taking a full medical and personal history, making a physical examination and talking to them to gauge their mental state. They also use various psychiatric tests. Psychiatrists then devise a treatment plan individually tailored to each patient. Treatment can include prescribing medication, therapy such as psychotherapy or counselling, or liaising with other professionals to bring about positive changes in the patient’s environment and lifestyle.
Psychiatrists usually specialise in a particular field, such as:
- general adult psychiatry
- child and adolescent psychiatry
- old age psychiatry
- forensic psychiatry (working with people with mental illnesses who commit crimes)
- psychotherapy (using “talking treatments” rather than prescribing medicines)
- addiction psychiatry (working with people who misuse substances)
- learning disabilities.
They work closely with a wide range of other health professionals. These include clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses and occupational therapists.
Working hours vary. Some psychiatrists work regular office hours, Monday to Friday. Others work shifts and provide on-call duties to ensure 24-hour emergency cover, seven days a week. Part-time and flexible hours are often available. Work locations include hospitals, patients’ homes, residential centres and prisons.
Psychiatrists in specialty training earn between €35,000 and €40,000 a year. Salaries for consultant psychiatrists start at £100,000 a year. The most senior consultants can earn over €140,000 a year.
A psychiatrist should:
- be interested in how people think and feel
- enjoy using scientific methods to investigate complex conditions
- be patient and tactful
- have excellent communication skills
- work well in a team.
To become a psychiatrist, it is first necessary to study for a degree in medicine. Medical degrees normally take five years, although there are some four-year and six-year courses. For more general information about becoming a doctor, see Doctor/General Practititioner.
When doctors have completed their medical degree they undertake a one year foundation programme of general training, followed by a further 3 years of ‘Basic Specialist Training’ (BST) followed by ‘Higher Specialist Training’ (HST) of at least 3 years. The place of training is hospitals / mental health services i.e. trainees are salaried non consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs).
Specialty psychiatry training takes seven years and leads to entry to the Irish Medical Council “Specialist Division”. Psychiatrists can then to apply for a senior post as a consultant.
Psychiatrists usually have to move between hospitals to progress.
College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Psychiatrists