Psychiatry: Understand The Mind

 By: Dhyan Patel

Psychiatry

Note: This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas.

Background

When many people think of doctors, they usually think of those that focus on treating the body. They often think about how doctors perform surgeries, cure infections, and develop care plans. But many people forget to think about the mind. They often forget about the invisible struggles people face that can shape the way they think, feel, and behave. Doctors who specialize in the mind are known as psychiatrists.


Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that is dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental and emotional disorders. From depression and anxiety to schizophrenia and addiction, psychiatrists help guide their patients through the most complex and challenging aspects of their lives.

So, what do they do?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. Unlike psychologists, they can prescribe medications, order lab tests, and evaluate biological factors such as hormones that influence behavior.


They treat a wide variety of mental health conditions, such as:

  • Depression and anxiety disorders

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Schizophrenia and psychosis

  • Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Substance use and addiction

  • Eating disorders

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • Personality disorders


Psychiatrists use a mix of therapy and medication approaches to help patients regain the balance in their lives. They might prescribe antidepressants or antipsychotics, lead psychotherapy sessions, or coordinate care with other psychologists and other healthcare professionals.

Additional Information

Depression can stem from chemical imbalances, traumatic experiences, or even both. Schizophrenia may have genetic roots, but stress and the environment can also play major roles. As a result, psychiatrists must study all of these factors (neuroscience and psychology) in order to have a complete understanding of each of their patients' conditions. They often use brain imaging, genetic testing, and clinical interviews to uncover the causes of the mental illnesses of their patients.

Required education and training

In order to become a psychiatrist, you must first earn your bachelor's degree and complete medical school. After that, you begin a four-year residency in psychiatry, where psychiatrists gain hands-on experience with treating patients with various mental health conditions. During their residency they rotate through hospital wards, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments in order to learn how to conduct psychiatric evaluations, prescribe medications safely, and manage a variety of mental illnesses.


Some psychiatrists may choose to specialize further through fellowships in areas such as:

  • Child and adolescent psychiatry - focusing on mental health in young children

  • Geriatric psychiatry - addressing the needs of older adults

  • Forensic psychiatry - working within the legal system to assess mental fitness and competency

  • Addiction psychiatry - treating substance use and co-occurring mental disorders

Importance

Mental health is just as important as physical health is, yet its importance is often neglected. Psychiatrists play a crucial role in highlighting that importance and showing that it is transformative and allows patients to work through the challenges that aren’t always visible from the outside.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2025). What is Psychiatry? Psychiatry.org. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry

BetterHealth. (2023). Types of mental health issues and illnesses. Vic.gov.au. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/types-of-mental-health-issues-and-illnesses

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 14). What is a Psychiatrist? What They Do & When To See One. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22702-psychiatrist

Mayo Clinic. (2025). Mental illness - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374974

Medschoolcoach. (2021, February 4). Psychiatry with Dr. Sarat Munjuluri - Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. https://shadowing.medschoolcoach.com/lessons/psychiatry-with-dr-sarat-munjuluri/

Sissons, B. (2020, May 4). What is a psychiatrist? Everything you need to know. Medicalnewstoday.com; Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-a-psychiatrist

The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. (2025). Specialist areas in psychiatry | RANZCP. RANZCP. https://www.ranzcp.org/become-a-psychiatrist/what-a-psychiatrist-does/specialist-areas-in-psychiatry

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. (2023, May 26). What Is a Psychiatrist | UCLA Medical School. UCLA Medical School. https://medschool.ucla.edu/news-article/what-is-a-psychiatrist

‌

Popular posts from this blog

Anesthesiology: The Heroes Who Keep Patients Alive

Image
By: Dhyan Patel Anesthesiology Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background When most people think about surgery, they usually think about surgeons standing over their bodies and performing various procedures in order to save someone. Now although that is true, there’s a hidden figure behind every successful surgery that most people tend to overlook: the anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologists are responsible for managing pain levels, monitoring patients' vital signs, and making sure that their patients not only remain safe, but also stable throughout their surgery. Without these professionals, mortality rates would increase and the surgical process that we have today wouldn’t exist at all. So, what do they do? Anesthesiologists are docto...
Read more

Neurosurgery: The Surgeons of The Most Complex Systems In The Body

Image
  By: Dhyan Patel Neurosurgery Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background One of the most demanding and precision requiring medical specialties is neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons are doctors who operate on the brain, spinal cord, and the nervous system. They perform some of the most complex and precise procedures in all of the medical field. Whether they are removing brain tumors, repairing spinal injuries, or stopping seizures, neurosurgeons are one of the most important types of doctors. As neurosurgery isn’t just simply cutting and stitching within the body, it is about navigating and working with the body's most important and delicate system: the nervous system. The system controls an individual's every thought, movement, and he...
Read more

Urology: Treating The Overlooked System of the Body

Image
  By: Dhyan Patel Urology Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background Every time we drink a glass of water or some other liquid, our bodies rely on a complex system of organs in order to filter out waste, produce urine, and maintain our internal balance. However, when this system fails, it requires a special type of doctor in order to restore it. That doctor is a urologist. Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the urinary tract in both men and women, and the male reproductive system. It is a specialty that combines surgery and internal medicine. This allows urologists to treat a wide range of conditions from kidney stones and bladder infections to prostate cancer. So, what do they do? Urologists are physicians who are tr...
Read more