Psychiatrics

A psychiatrist is a doctor specializing in psychiatry, the branch of medicine dedicated to the diagnosis, prevention, study and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are doctors, unlike psychologists, and must assess patients to determine if their symptoms are the result of a physical illness, a combination of physical and mental or strictly psychiatric disorders. A psychiatrist usually works as the clinical leader of the multidisciplinary team, which may include psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and nurses. Psychiatrists have a broad training in bio-psycho-social approach to the evaluation and management of mental illnesses. As part of the clinical assessment process, psychiatrists can use a mental health test; physical examination; brain imaging such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET); and blood tests. Psychiatrists prescribe medication and can also use psychotherapy, although they can also focus primarily on medical management and consult a psychologist or other specialist therapist for weekly psychotherapy every two weeks. Some psychiatrists specialize in helping certain age groups. Pediatric psychiatry is the area of â€‹â€‹the profession that works with children to resolve psychological problems. Psychiatrists specializing in geriatric psychiatry work with the elderly and are called geriatric psychiatrists or geropsychiatrists. Those who practice psychiatry in the workplace are called occupational psychiatrists in the United States and occupational psychology is the name used for the discipline most similar to the United Kingdom. Psychiatrists working in the courtroom and reporting to the judge and jury in criminal and civil cases are called forensic psychiatrists, who also treat offenders with mental disorders and other patients whose condition is such that they must be treated in secure units.