Careers in Medicine: Specialty Information

Psychiatry

Nature of the work

Psychiatrists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders, and adjustment disorders. The psychiatrist is able to understand the biologic, psychologic, and social components of illness, and therefore is uniquely prepared to treat the whole person. A psychiatrist is qualified to order diagnostic laboratory tests and to prescribe medications, evaluate, and treat psychologic and interpersonal problems, and to intervene with families who are coping with stress, crises, and other problems in living.¹

Psychiatrists can receive training in the following subspecialties:

Training/residency information

The residency training for psychiatry is four years. Up to two years of additional training are required to practice in one of the subspecialty areas.

Salary information

The annual salary for psychiatrists ranges from $173,800 to $248,198.²

For more information

• American Psychiatric Association
• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

References
1 The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.
2 2008 Physician Compensation Survey [special feature]. Modern Healthcare. July 14, 2008: 28-32.

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