July 10, 2006
by Kathy A. Johnson
kathy.johnson@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
When War of the Worlds star Tom Cruise criticized psychiatry, he began a different war: of words. Brooke Shields wrote an editorial taking issue with his comments. Understandably, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) also disagreed with his remarks, issuing a press release in response.
What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a medical specialty devoted to the study, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. Of those who provide mental health care, only psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors.
Psychiatry Training and Education
Psychiatrists spend significant time in psychiatric training. They must earn a bachelor's degree, graduate from medical school, and complete a four-year psychiatric residency program. Standard curriculum includes courses in biochemistry, physiology, psychiatry, behavioral science, and neuroscience.
Much psychiatry training is continued beyond residency, through specialties such as child psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, or forensic psychiatry.
What Psychiatrists Do
To treat patients, psychiatrists use different types of psychotherapy, medication, or hospitalization when necessary. According to the American Psychiatric Association, "Because they are physicians, psychiatrists can order or perform a full range of medical laboratory and psychological tests that provide a complete picture of a patient's physical and mental state. Their education and years of clinical experience equip them to understand the complex relationship between emotional and other medical illness, evaluate all the medical and psychological data, make a diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan." Because psychiatrists are physicians, they are the only mental health providers who can prescribe medication.
Psychiatrists work in hospitals, clinics, prisons, nursing homes and other settings. According to the APA, about half of medical professionals with psychiatry training in the U.S. maintain private practices. Some combine private practice with work in another setting, a community mental health center, for example.
Most Americans, Cruise aside, believe mental health treatment works, and that going to a psychiatrist is a sign of strength. While differences of opinion regarding treatment remain, psychiatry strives to improve quality of life for those with mental health issues.
Sources
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition
About the Author
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.
|
Related Articles |
 |
|
|
|
