Why psychiatry as a career

The geriatric psychiatrist is responsible for listening and responding to the needs and concerns of older adults and working out a treatment plan. There are plenty of job opportunities for psychiatrists as it is a lucrative career. Psychiatrists can seek employment in:. The average salary in this profession can range from Rs. This number depends on the years of experience one has in this field and also the institute from where you have studied.

The salary package earned by Psychiatrists in India based on their experience is mentioned below:. Note : The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual and company to company. Apart from studying the course curriculum, you can also refer a few books to gain more in-depth knowledge of the subject. Listed below are some of the best books and study material on psychiatry:. This profession is a bit challenging as psychiatrists are faced with the difficult task of diagnosing and treating patients with mental health disorders.

However, the advantages that it offers are worth the efforts and the challenge. Psychiatrists have the option of working in different environments such as psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, NGOs, clinics or can have their own private practice. They have the flexibility to work in a variety of work settings and the work environment is usually calm and private. The field of psychiatry has many opportunities for growth and career advancement. Psychiatrists can also choose to mentor students, teach at universities or undertake research studies.

Psychiatry is a profession which is devoted to helping others. So, the gratification and job satisfaction that one gets out of it can be really rewarding. Psychiatry is a high paying job. Psychiatrists who have their own private practice earn even better than those who work in hospitals or clinics. The monetary benefits can be quite rewarding. Though psychiatry is a rewarding field but just like everything, there are certain disadvantages to being a psychiatrist.

Some of those are:. Dealing with patients can be draining and stressful. Related: Psychiatrist Educational Requirements. Here are 12 different careers in psychiatry to consider when trying to choose a specialty:. Psychiatrists specializing in inpatient care are medical doctors who work with patients who need overnight or long-term treatment. They work in psychiatric facilities or psychiatric units of general hospitals and offer counseling, medication and long-term treatment plans for patients suffering from mental illness.

Child psychiatrists are medical doctors who study and treat mental, emotional and behavioral health disorders in children. They often work in schools, courts, educational centers, community centers, hospitals and private practices to provide treatment and counseling to children and their families. Adolescent psychiatrists are medical doctors who study and treat mental, emotional and behavioral health disorders in adolescent children. These professionals are highly empathetic and provide treatment plans and medication to patients in schools, courts, managed care facilities, community centers, hospitals and private practices.

Geriatric psychiatrists are medical doctors who study disease prevention and mental health conditions as they apply to patients of an older age. They work in private practices, assistant living facilities, nursing homes or hospitals to offer medication, counseling and treatment plans to their patients.

Disability psychiatry is the study of and treatment of mental illness and behavioral disorders in patients who have a significant impairment. They regularly work with government agencies, community centers, group homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals to provide care for their patients.

Forensic psychiatrists are medical doctors who use their psychiatric expertise to assist the criminal justice system. They perform evaluations, provide medical treatment plans for people who are incarcerated and are often called as expert witnesses in court cases.

Administrative psychiatry is the study and practice of designing organizational structures that best support mental health facilities. They align best practices in behavioral health and wellness management with the operational needs of an institution. Addiction psychiatry is a subspecialty that focuses on the study and treatment of mental health disorders related to addiction.

People in this field are medical doctors who work with patients who suffer from behavior, substance or impulse related addiction and abuse. Emergency psychiatry is the practice of treating mental health conditions and diseases in emergency settings. These psychiatrists work in the psychiatric unit of hospitals, crisis clinics and emergency hotline centers.

They provide crisis management, counseling, medication and emergency treatment plans for people suffering from life-threatening mental health conditions. Psychiatrists specializing in community and public health study clinical care practices and the treatment of individuals with mental health disorders in the workplace, schools, courts and prison.

They promote system change, innovation and policy change for the betterment of communities, vulnerable pollutions and society as a whole.

Military psychiatrists are medical doctors who treat patients and manage mental health systems in the military. They provide counseling, treatment and wellness evaluations for people in active duty, and offer long-term care plans for military veterans with behavioral disorders, mental illness or mental disability. Psychiatric researchers are medical doctors who design theories, conduct studies and publish their findings regarding mental health conditions and treatment options.

Related: Learn About Being a Psychiatrist. Here are eight steps to take when determining a career path in psychiatry:. Take time to research the wide variety of career paths within psychiatry. If you entered medical school with a specialty in mind, you may find that there are even more compelling career tracks available. Many positions and specialties for licensed psychologists exist in hospitals, private practices, inpatient facilities, outpatient facilities, residential centers, youth services, government agencies, schools and other institutions.

Despite their similar names, psychology and psychiatry serve different purposes. Psychology, the study of the mind and behavior, encompasses working with patients in the role of counselor or therapist, with the goal of using psychotherapy to help patients cope with mental illness and trauma.

Psychiatry, the study of treating mental illness or abnormal behavior, takes a more clinical, medicinal approach to working with clients dealing with these issues.

Psychologists generally work closely with clients to identify and work through personal issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms for emotional problems while psychiatrists focus on identifying medicinal or pharmacologic treatments for mental illness or abnormal behaviors. Although both of these professions require good people skills and a desire to help others, training for them differs. Typically, both professions require a doctorate; however, students may pursue some careers in counseling with a specialized master's degree.

This guide introduces each profession and explains how to begin a career in both fields. Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

Although psychiatry and psychology share some qualities, each field serves different purposes when it comes to the treatment and diagnosis of mental illness and patient care.

A career in psychology would best suit someone interested in talking through a patient's personal issues. A career in psychiatry would best suit someone with an interest in the clinical side of treating mental issues and with an inclination toward the scientific and medical aspects of diagnosis and treatment.

Keep reading to learn more about skills and education each career requires. Psychiatrists often possess a strong background in medicine and human biology and how each contributes to mental illness and abnormal behaviors. Psychologists generally have stronger skills in communication and an understanding how brain processes can affect a person's emotional wellbeing. The table below outlines common skills for both professions. The academic paths that psychiatrists and psychologists take differ greatly.

For example, psychiatry involves a stronger emphasis on medicine, biology, and pharmacology; psychology generally emphasizes psychotherapy and human behavior.

The table below outlines requirements for each degree path and highlights similarities and differences. When you consider reasons that might deter you from a career in psychiatry, please rate motivator, no impact, or deterrent the impact of the following on your career decision making: stigma among colleagues, length of residency program, neuroscience interface, diagnoses seeming hard to define, limited treatments, emphasis on psychotherapy, job market, and concerns regarding personal safety?

Open in a separate window. Clinical Implications Stigma regarding the psychiatric profession and psychiatric illness should be addressed in undergraduate and post-graduate medical education to aid recruitment. Limitations There may be additional influences on career choice that may not have been detected by this survey. Motivators and Deterrents Respondents identified the emphasis of neuroscience, diagnostic complexity, patient stigma, and the favourable job market for psychiatry as motivating factors in choosing a career in psychiatry.

Making the Choice: Timing and Pragmatics Students were asked to retrospectively report on the degree to which they felt firmly decided on psychiatry as a career at the time of applying, which, in the Canadian matching process, is about 3 months before program and student selections and rank lists are due.

Table 3 Features of psychiatry residency programs ranked as the most important ranked 1, 2, or 3 by applicants. Discussion Our study uniquely explores student perspectives regarding the choice of a career in psychiatry, proximal to the decision-making window.

Exposure to Psychiatry Complementing existing knowledge and scholarship, 11 our survey findings further emphasize the importance of early and broad exposure to psychiatry to capture interest and enable self-reflection regarding suitability for this discipline.

The Role of Residency Program Interview and Information Days Responses regarding the timing of residency program ranking decision making indicate that applicants are genuinely considering their options about program and discipline choice during their interview tours of schools and programs. Conclusion Our survey and synthesis advances our understanding of some important factors that impact recruitment to psychiatry by illustrating perspectives of applicants at the time of high-stakes career decision making.

References 1. Decline of US medical student career choice of psychiatry and what to do about it. Am J Psychiatry. Choice and rejection of psychiatry as a career: surveys of UK medical graduates from to Br J Psychiatry.

Recruitment of US medical graduates into psychiatry: reasons for optimism, sources of concern. Acad Psychiatry. Student career choice in psychiatry: findings from 18 UK medical schools. Int Rev Psychiatry. Why medical students choose psychiatry—a 20 country cross-sectional survey. BMC Med Educ. Choosing a career in psychiatry: influential factors within a medical school program. Declining student interest in psychiatry.

Carry on shrinking: career intentions and attitudes to psychiatry of prospective medical students. Psychiatr Bull. Inspirational recruitment and the Maryland plan: overcoming the stigma of public psychiatry.