What does a psychiatrist treat?

There are over 200 classified types of mental health disorders. Below are a list of the most common conditions a psychiatrist treats:

What treatment methods are used by psychiatrists?

There are a variety of different treatments used but it depends on the condition the patient has. These can include:

Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
Psychosocial interventions
Medication e.g. antidepressants or antipsychotics
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Psychotherapeutic treatment e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Psycho-educational interventions

What subspecialties are included under psychiatry?

There are three sub-specialties of general psychiatry:

Substance Misuse Psychiatry – specialises in psychiatry related to patients who use or are addicted to drugs.
Liaison Psychiatry – this specialises in psychiatry within a general medical setting, such as a hospital. The role of the psychiatrist here is to provide psychiatric care to medical patients.
Rehabilitation Psychiatry – this specialises in the restoration of an individual diagnosed with a mental health disorder to the community.

When should you see a psychiatrist?

When a mental health disorder, such as anxiety or depression, becomes so bad that it impacts your daily life, it’s probably time to see a psychiatrist to get a proper diagnosis. In addition, if you or your support network believe your condition poses a risk to you or others around you, you must see a specialist and have an evaluation. Your GP will normally refer you to a psychiatrist in these cases. After proper diagnosis, you might begin treatment with the psychiatrist or your GP can manage it for you.

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