What Does a Psychologist Do?
A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in clinical psychiatry, the field of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses. A psychiatrist diagnoses a patient on the basis of the cognitive symptoms presented by the patient and their history of psychiatric illness. The most common symptoms of a psychiatric illness include hallucinations, disorganized thinking, agitation, paranoia, mood swings, and depression. In order for a psychiatrist to develop a treatment plan for his or her patients, it is important for the psychiatrist to have an understanding of the cognitive process that causes many of the symptoms. While a psychiatrist treats the symptoms, he or she also works on changing the thought processes that cause the symptoms of the illness.
In order to become a psychiatrist, a person must attend a medical school and then earn at least four years of graduate level degrees from accredited universities or colleges. To practice as a psychiatrist, a person must pass the American Board of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology Registration (ABPS) Examination and the National Board of Examiners (NBEO) Examination. After graduating from an accredited medical school, a psychiatrist can pursue either a specialty or elective degree in psychiatric practice. Some psychiatrists choose to specialize in either clinical or forensic psychiatry. Many psychiatrists choose to conduct research studies in their careers. Other psychiatrists choose to serve as consultants or psychotherapists to other healthcare providers.
All psychiatrists interact with their patients as part of their professional responsibilities. Psychotherapy is an important component of the treatment process. The goal of therapy is to understand the cognitive processes that cause the symptoms of the illness and to create interventions that help the patient overcome the challenges that are associated with the illness. Successful psychotherapy treatments will help the psychiatrist to determine the specific cause of the disorder, which in turn will guide him or her in the development of an effective treatment plan.
Because psychotherapy is often the foundation of successful treatment, it is extremely important for the psychiatrist to have a thorough knowledge of the methods of cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and other alternative forms of medical and mental health care. The success of the psychiatrist’s treatment plan depends largely on the skill and quality of the research that he or she has performed.