What does a psychiatrist do, and what is their educational background?
Psychiatrists are medical experts who specialize in psychiatry, the branch of medicine that addresses, treats, and prevents emotional, mental, and behavioral conditions and disorders.
Psychiatrists address the mental and physical aspects of psychological conditions. Their treatment interventions usually include medicine, neuromodulation, and psychotherapy. Typical responsibilities of psychiatrists include evaluating and diagnosing patients, prescribing them medications, and administering their treatment plans. Psychiatrists work with a wide range of specialists. They usually collaborate with doctors, nurses, psychologists, and certified social workers.
To become a psychiatrist, one must complete a pre-medical undergraduate program, four years of medical school, and a four-year psychiatry residency. After completing their residency, some psychiatrists enroll in fellowship programs to specialize in one or more branches of psychiatry.
All aspiring psychiatrists must also pass the certification exam administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. They must take recertification exams every ten years to be eligible for practice.
What are the different specializations in psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a vast field with several subspecialties. Some of them are as follows:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry deals with mental health concerns in children and teens below 18. Child psychiatrists commonly treat mood disorders, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Geriatric psychiatry focuses on providing holistic mental health care to people over 60. Geriatric psychiatrists treat patients with dementia, Alzheimer's, and other mental illnesses caused or exacerbated by old age.
- Perinatal psychiatry deals with women's mental health during and after pregnancy. They closely work with gynecologists and obstetricians.
- Addiction psychiatry concerns the diagnosis and treatment of people with substance abuse-related disorders. They also help patients manage any adverse withdrawal symptoms to prevent relapse.
- Rehabilitation and social psychiatry focus on the needs of individuals with complex and chronic mental health concerns. Besides implementing a treatment plan to manage a person's symptoms, rehabilitation psychiatrists help integrate or reintegrate them with their local communities.
What mental health concerns do psychiatrists treat?
Mental illnesses can ruin work and home relationships and lead to dangerous living situations. Discrepancies in one's thoughts, feelings, or behavior might result from mental health difficulties. Typically, a mental disease diagnosis requires the presence of functional impairment caused by a mental ailment.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five Americans struggles with
mental health issues. Currently, there have been more than 200 mental health conditions diagnosed. The following are some such mental health problems.
- Depression: The World Health Organization highlights that depression affects millions of children and adults in the United States and worldwide. The symptoms that each patient experiences are distinctive. Some people go through grief and uncontrollably cry. Patients may discover that they sleep longer than usual and dread getting out of bed in the morning. Those who experience severe depression could feel hopeless or think about committing suicide.
- Anxiety: Two symptoms common to all anxiety disorders are generalized worry and panic attacks. Dread, insomnia, PTSD, nightmares, racing thoughts, and phobias are further signs.
- Substance and addiction-related disorders: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM 5), categorizes drug and alcohol addiction as a mental health issue. People with these concerns frequently have co-occurring disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.
- ADHD: It refers to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It illustrates how frequently some people experience hyperactivity and inattention. Impulsivity is commonly linked to ADHD symptoms.
- PTSD: After experiencing a traumatic or unpleasant event, a person may acquire post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be exacerbated by sexual assault, war conflict, and natural disasters. Symptoms include fear, phobias, flashbacks, and an inability to control thoughts about the incident. Patients may feel overwhelmed and unable to lead everyday lives due to their thoughts and memories of the trauma.
- Schizophrenia: Neuropsychiatry states that schizophrenia is assumed to be a "genetic propensity with environmental triggers," while the specific origin is uncertain. Patients with schizophrenia may experience times of disconnection from reality. Possible symptoms include a lack of proper communication, delusions, and hallucinations.
- Bipolar illness: Bipolar illness or disorder was formerly known as manic depression. It causes mood swings of extreme levels, including emotional highs, also called mania, and lows, also called depression. Manic and depressive symptoms alternate with others.
- Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that affect the quality, amount, and timing of sleep. These can affect mental and physical health. Common sleep disorders comprise restless legs syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD): It is a condition that causes body image issues. A person starts having negative thoughts about their own body and appearance. They constantly think about their body's flaws and spend vast amounts of time focusing on or trying to change what they believe is wrong with them. This disrupts their mental health and physical well-being. People with BDD have an elevated risk of self-harming or suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A condition that makes you have recurring unwanted thoughts that compel you to perform repetitive tasks or behaviors. OCD can affect anyone and is generally a life-long (chronic) condition, but symptoms may come and go over time. Common causes include genetics, brain changes, PANDAS syndrome, and childhood trauma.
What treatments do psychiatrists use?
When you visit a psychiatrist near you, they can employ an array of treatment options, including various types of talk therapy, psychosocial interventions, medications, and other treatments based on the needs of each patient. The following are a few types:
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is a standard treatment modality for people experiencing mental health challenges. It is also known as talk therapy. During psychotherapy sessions, patients speak one-on-one or in groups with a psychiatrist. The patient can discuss their concerns and work with a therapist to explore solutions. Talk therapy addresses a patient's past traumas, unresolved emotions, depression, and anxiety. It also assesses a patient's anger management strategies and familial relationships.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy is another common type of psychiatric treatment that focuses on helping patients overcome unhealthy thoughts and behavioral patterns. Psychiatrists also help patients develop positive, constructive habits as part of the treatment process.
- Medications: Medications are another treatment option for individuals suffering from mental health disorders. In many cases, medication works best when paired with talk therapy. A psychiatrist may prescribe several medications depending on the patient's condition. Antidepressants, for example, can be helpful to individuals who have been diagnosed with depression, sleeplessness, or anxiety. Medications for anxiety assist patients in overcoming recurrent panic episodes, as well as social and general anxiety. Other medications include antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
- Hospitalization: During hospitalization, patients are monitored in a controlled environment, where doctors administer medicines to their patients. Patients also get access to other treatments that could help their condition. Psychiatrists usually consider hospitalization after exploring other therapy options. Patients with severe mental health issues may benefit from hospitalization. It also aids people who have suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, or delusions.
- Alternative treatments in psychiatry: Some patients seek alternative therapies to address a mental health issue. It can range from yoga to running, meditation, or simply catching up on a hobby. Often, this form of treatment helps a patient relax and re-center themselves. It also reduces stress, allowing patients to devote more energy to their recovery. Hobbies and exercise can improve a patient's mental health.
What are the differences between psychologists and psychiatrists?
Psychologists and psychiatrists both help patients manage their mental health concerns. However, they receive distinctly different training and cannot substitute for each other. Here are a few ways in which psychiatrists differ from psychologists.
Psychology studies emotions, cognition, behavior, and the interconnections between them. Before it became an independent discipline, psychology was considered a branch of philosophy. On the other hand, psychiatry is a branch of medicine focusing on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental illnesses.
Psychologists must earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) to practice. In contrast, psychiatrists must obtain a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from a medical school.
Psychiatrists can make diagnoses, order lab tests, and prescribe medications. In contrast, psychologists can offer different forms of therapy, such as humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoanalytic therapy, and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).
Your mental health and COVID-19
You may have experienced various changes in your way of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including occasional uncertainty. Concerns and dread surrounding COVID-19 and its effects can be paralyzing. It is considerably more difficult when there is social distance.
According to an article published by Mayo Clinic, more Americans reported experiencing stress, worry, despair, and insomnia during the epidemic than before. To deal with their anxieties about the epidemic, some people have increased their usage of alcohol or narcotics. In actuality, utilizing these drugs might make depression and anxiety worse.
For these reasons, developing coping mechanisms and receiving the required attention is crucial. Here are some positive ways:
- Maintain a proper routine to avoid the cycle of unfavorable thoughts that cause anxiety and despair. Enjoy activities like reading, journaling, crafting, playing games, and cooking.
- In addition to observing a regular bedtime, maintain regular hours for eating, getting dressed, and showering, as well as your work or study routine and exercise regimen. Make time for your favorite pastimes as well. As a result of this predictability, you may feel more in control.
- Eat well-balanced meals to maintain good health. Limit refined sugar and junk food. Limit caffeine intake because it can worsen stress, anxiety, and sleep issues.
- Look for a sport or activity that requires movement, such as dancing or working out, and go outside, like on a nature walk. It can help brighten the mood and lessen anxiety.
- Using alcohol and smoking as a coping mechanism might make things worse, diminish your coping abilities, and increase your risk of lung disease.
- Think positively and consider beginning each day by making a gratitude list. Try to retain a positive outlook and accept and view changes in context.
- Identify achievable daily goals and describe the steps to achieve them. No matter how modest, give yourself credit for every move in the correct direction. And be aware that some days will be better than others.
Find the best psychiatrist near you in Brookline, Massachusetts
Mental health issues can be immediate, like a panic attack, terrifying hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, or hearing "voices," or they can be more enduring, like persistent melancholy, hopelessness, anxiety, or functional issues that make daily life feel chaotic or out of control. Zocdoc knows you don't want to neglect anything related to your health and can help you find a reliable psychiatrist in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Zocdoc's goal is to connect patients with top doctors. You may locate the best psychiatrist in Brookline depending on your symptoms, the procedure required, your preferred location and time, and your insurance company and plan. If you cannot find your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, upload an image of your card. Scanning the picture, we will display your likely plan. Besides, this feature is only available for medical insurance cards, not vision or dental ones. If you face problems uploading your card's image, contact our service team and visit Zocdoc's patient help center for additional assistance.
You can improve your search results by choosing the psychiatrist's language, gender, hospital affiliation, and whether or not they treat minors.
Each psychiatrist's profile on Zocdoc includes details about their education, work history, areas of expertise, affiliations, accolades, certifications, and licenses, among other things. You can review these details and schedule appointments in person or online, depending on your needs. You can also read verified patient reviews to locate the best psychiatrist near you in Brookline.
Zocdoc offers free, convenient, and secure appointments.
Mental health statistics of Massachusetts
According to a report published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 2021 report in 2021, 260,000 adults in Massachusetts have a major mental illness, and about 1,155,000 adults in the state have a mental health condition. Adults in the state reported anxiety or depressive symptoms in 42.2% of cases, and 21.9% were unable to receive the counseling or therapy they needed.
The report also stated that 273,105 residents in Massachusetts live in areas with insufficient access to mental health experts. There are 17,975 homeless people in the state, and among them, 1 in 5 people have significant mental diseases.
Sources
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
National Alliance on Mental Illness
American Psychiatric Association
Royal College of Psychiatrists[1]
Royal College of Psychiatrists[2]
Talkspace
Psychology.org
Healthline
NYC Psychiatric Associates
