Jun 7, 20204 min read

The Road to Psychiatry

By: Mariyum Siddiqui

The year 2020 has brought along several surprises, including an unprecedented global pandemic. As Covid-19 has rapidly spread across the world and infected countless individuals, it has placed momentous importance upon the frontlines workers in the medical field. This has called for various doctors of different branches to extend their specialties towards those in need. Psychiatrists, in particular, have been a significant force as they focus on emotional well-being during a troubling time.

Psychiatry is a primary division in the medical field that specializes in the application of medicine in response to mental-health related issues. As opposed to traditional practices like therapy, psychiatry places significance upon chemical imbalances or shifts within the brain. This also involves treating patients who suffer from emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. Since psychiatrists derive a large portion of their practice from psychology, some forms of treatment include psychotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and specific medications. This allows them to perform diagnoses and physical exams similar to the job description of a general physician. A psychiatrist’s job is to create a unique treatment plan depending on if a person suffers from depression, OCD, PTSD, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.

As practicing physicians, psychiatrists are tasked with a diverse set of responsibilities. For example, when evaluating patients, they gather family records to search for any genetic abnormalities. This allows them to formulate proper diagnoses through emotional and physical examinations and properly administer the medication needed to benefit the patient. Additionally, psychiatrists are a crucial component of mental health research and treatment. Similar to other professions, they often work as part of a team. This allows them to consult with other officials like primary care physicians, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses. While working alongside other healthcare workers, psychiatrists can continue counseling patients and analyzing any new data or findings with their team.

It is a widely known fact that pursuing a career within the medical field is a long and winding road. Becoming a psychiatrist is not an exception, as they are practicing medical physicians. As with any college education, students must graduate with a bachelor's degree. Although medical schools do not require a certain major (meaning that any major is suitable), it is encouraged to take pre-med classes to successfully prepare for the medical entrance exam, or MCAT. For students that are interested in psychiatry, they will most likely major in psychology, which allows them to take classes like Developmental Psychology, Personality Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology. The United States is filled with some of the best medical universities in the world. For psychiatry, some of the best Medical Schools are Harvard University, University of California, John Hopkins University, and Columbia University. These medical schools are world-renowned for their engaging programs that prepare the students for a life in medicine. Once the student has been accepted into medical school, they are submerged into an entirely different world. The first two years involve a heavily based academic curriculum in which students are taught courses like biochemistry, pathology, micrology, and pharmacology. After the initial two years in school, clinical rounds begin. This includes exposure to pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, psychiatry, and neurology. At this stage, most students will have decided which specific branch is their true passion. In the case of psychiatry, these students will lean towards courses like Psychopathology and Psychiatry clerkship.

After four years of medical school, students will direct their attention to residency. For psychiatrists, this entails a different experience when compared to other professions in the health field. During these 3-4 years, students will learn about the various techniques to treat different kinds of diseases. Many of these illnesses have overlapping correlations with neurology, such as seizure disorders, certain movement disorders, dementia, and delirium. While working alongside doctors in hospitals or clinics, students can see the specific types of equipment needed to treat mental disorders. Throughout the psychiatric residency, students will witness inpatient psychiatry, child psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and addiction psychiatry. Since residency sees the students working as interns, they will be allowed to see the different hospital settings as well as their diverse techniques to treat patients.

Alongside standard examinations given like US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), psychiatrists are also required to become board certified. This means that psychiatrists must take an APBN exam every 10 years to ensure the validity of their examination. This test is a culmination of everything the students will have learned including laboratory experience, drug administration, and the ability to properly treat patients who suffer from certain mental, emotional, or behavioral illnesses. The APBN exam also focuses on individual subspecialties in psychiatry such as addiction psychiatry, brain injury medicine, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and clinical neurophysiology.

After years of studying and relentless hard work, a student is finally able to achieve their ultimate goal of earning the title of a board-certified psychiatrist. Not only will they be able to practice as a physician, but they can extend their help towards patients suffering from terrible mental illnesses. As they gain more experience, the student will be able to work from hospitals and even their clinics. Through this profession, more attention is directed towards mental health which was often ignored for most of history. The field of psychiatry continues to grow with each coming day. With new research and treatment studies continuously being released, the future looks even brighter for the new generations of psychiatrists.

Sources:

The Road to Psychiatry

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