Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They assess both the physical and mental aspects of psychological conditions and can order or perform a variety of medical and psychological tests. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and medical treatment for mental health conditions. They use criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) to diagnose specific mental health conditions. Some of the mental health conditions that psychiatrists treat include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorders.

Psychiatrists work in a variety of settings, including private practices, clinics, general and psychiatric hospitals, academic health centers, community agencies, courts and prisons, nursing homes, industry, government, military settings, rehabilitation programs, emergency rooms, hospice programs, and many other places. They can also serve in leadership roles. About half of the psychiatrists in the U.S. maintain private practices, and many psychiatrists work in multiple settings.

To become a psychiatrist, one must first earn a medical degree, after which they can enter a residency program in psychiatry. Post-graduate education in psychiatry consists of four years of residency training, of which at least three are in psychiatry. During the first year, the resident spends at least four months in general medical care, including internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics.

In summary, psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They work in a variety of settings and can prescribe medication and medical treatment for mental health conditions. To become a psychiatrist, one must first earn a medical degree and complete a residency program in psychiatry.