Psychiatrists

Career summary

#No alternate titles

Psychiatrists help patients with mental illnesses such as substance abuse, anxiety disorders, or depression. Some mental illnesses have a biological cause, such as a lack of the proper chemicals in the brain. Other mental illnesses are caused by an event, such as the death of a loved one.

Psychiatrists may have an area of specialty:

• Child and adolescent psychiatrists work with children or teenagers and their families
• Industrial psychiatrists help businesses deal with problems, such as violence or drugs in the work place
• Forensic psychiatrists testify in court on the mental state of people

Psychiatrists ask patients questions about current and previous mental health problems. They review the medical history and family background to try and find a cause of the problem. Sometimes they talk with family members to learn more about a patient's life. In addition, they may consult with other mental health specialists who have worked with the patient. They also use lab tests to help make a diagnosis.

After making a diagnosis, psychiatrists make a treatment plan. Mental illness can be treated in many ways. Psychiatrists can use psychotherapy to help patients talk about issues and solve problems. They can also prescribe medications. In serious cases, psychiatrists admit patients to hospitals.

Psychiatrists monitor a patient's condition by meeting with them regularly. They make changes in the treatment plan if needed.

Psychiatrists share similar tasks with other types of physicians, they:

• Consult with other health care professionals
• Oversee the business aspects of running an office
• Keep detailed records about each patient
• Write reports for insurance companies and government agencies

Some psychiatrists teach at medical schools. They may also do research on procedures and treatments for disease. Sometimes they do research and write articles for journals. Some psychiatrists teach or supervise students.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Addictions Counselors
• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Family and General Practitioners
• Mental Health Counselors
• Psychiatric Technicians
• Psychologists
• Registered Nurses
• School Psychologists
• Social Workers
• University and College Teachers

Military careers

• Physicians and Surgeons

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to psychiatrists.

• Analyze data to diagnose illness.
• Provide treatments such as psychotherapy or medications. May conduct diagnostic tests.
• Consult with other health care providers.
• Counsel patients during office visits.
• Meet with patients to gather background information.
• Talk with family members and other mental health specialists to get additional information.
• Examine medical and family history.
• Prescribe treatment for patients.
• Order lab tests to help make the diagnoses.
• Advise family members about patients' condition.
• Change treatment program as needed.
• May conduct research and publish results.
• May teach in medical school.
• Participate on committees to promote community health services.
• Keep detailed records on patients.
• May admit patients to the hospital.
• Take classes to update skills.

Common work activities

Psychiatrists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Document and record information
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Teach others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Analyze data or information
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Process information
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Develop and build teams
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Evaluate information against standards
• Think creatively
• Develop goals and strategies
• Use computers
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Perform administrative tasks
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Perform for or work with the public
• Coach others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Schedule work and activities

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, psychiatrists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They work closely with patients and other health care providers.
• Often deal with patients who are unpleasant or angry.
• Are often placed in conflict situations with patients.
• Often deal with physical aggression from violent patients.
• Are responsible for work outcomes.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of patients and the public.
• Communicate with coworkers daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person.
• Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors in clinics, offices, or hospitals.
• Are often exposed to diseases or infections from patients.
• Work near patients, but usually have a few feet of space separating them from others.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in their work. Errors or omissions could seriously endanger the health and safety of patients.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact patients.
• Rarely consult with other mental health specialists before making a decision.
• Are usually able to set their tasks for the day without consulting with a supervisor.
• Are moderately competitive. They may compete with other psychiatrists or institutions over their reputations.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.
• Repeat the same mental tasks.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• Work 40 hours a week.
• May work on-call, which means they are available to work on short notice to handle emergencies.
• May work nights or weekends at hospitals and in-patient clinics.

Physical demands

Psychiatrists frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for psychiatrists to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for psychiatrists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use muscles to jump, sprint, or throw objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

Psychiatrists need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Work with things

• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Medicine

Other programs of study to consider

• Behavioral Sciences
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Mental Health Counseling
• Pre-Medicine
• Psychology, General
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• School Counseling

Training

To work as a psychiatrist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree;
• graduate from medical school;
• complete an internship;
• pass a state licensing exam;
• complete a three-year residency program in psychiatry; and
• pass additional exams to become board certified.

Education after high school

To become a licensed doctor, you must complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DOM) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and labs. You study anatomy, biochemistry, and different medicines. You also learn how to take a medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of physicians.

You usually need a bachelor's degree to get into medical school. While you do not need to be a pre-medicine or science major, these programs are good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.

On-the-job training

While in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.

After medical school, you complete a residency program in psychiatry. Your residency will last from three to five years. Residents usually work in hospitals. After your residency, you take additional exams to become board certified.

Military training

The military provides advanced training for psychiatrists. However, it does not provide the initial training to become a doctor. Scholarships for advanced medical training are available in return for a required period of military service.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements . You need a very strong background in math and science to become a doctor. Take as many math and science courses as you can.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Child Development
• Computer Applications
• Food and Nutrition
• Foreign Language
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Some psychiatrists go to work for the hospital where they complete their residency. Others find jobs through professional journals and organizations. Many psychiatrists start their own practice or join a group practice.

Costs to workers

Psychiatrists who have borrowed money to pay school expenses may have large debt payments for the first few years after graduation. The average debt for medical students who graduated in 2018 was $196,520 with 83% percent owing at least $100,000. Malpractice insurance is expensive. To enter private practice, practitioners must invest in equipment, office space, and staffing costs. Estimated costs range from $75,000 to $100,000 or more.

Psychiatrists who join professional associations pay annual dues.

#http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/modernmedicine/modern-medicine-feature-articles/malpractice-premiums-continue  and AMA debt info from: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/medical-student-section/advocacy-policy/medical-student-debt/background.page  4/11/13 cj. & lh thanks Carol 3/12/14. Updated 3/23/15 from this page from LH https://www.aamc.org/download/152968/data/debtfactcard.pdf  cj.

#Updated debt info from AAMC First 2016 debt card linked to from this page https://students-residents.aamc.org/financial-aid/ 12/12/16 cj. Updated debt from Oct 2018 AAMC Fact card, 3/19/19 cj.

Licensing/certification

Psychiatrists must be licensed by the State of Washington as either medical or osteopathic physicians. Licensing requirements include:

• a good moral character;
• physical and mental capability to safely perform the duties of a physician;
• completion of a four-year doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine program at an approved medical school;
• one year (osteopathic physician) or two years (medical physician) approved post-graduate training;
• completion of four- (medical physician) or seven- (osteopathic physician) clock hours AIDS education; and
• passing a national written exam.

For more information on the US Medical Licensing Exam, call 215.590.9500 or go to the National Board of Medical Examiners  website.

Osteopathic doctors must complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years and medical doctors must complete 200 hours of continuing education every four years.

Licensing fees vary ranging from $491 (medical physicians) to $391 (osteopathic physicians) for the application. The annual renewal fee for osteopathic physicians is $441 and the biannual renewal fee for medical physicians is $657. The combined fee for an application and state exam for osteopathic practitioners is $516. The licensing and the renewal fees generally include an access fee for health-related online library journals and publications and a Washington physician health program surcharge.

For more information on medical doctors, contact:

Washington Medical Commission 
PO Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
360.236.2750

For information on osteopathic doctors, contact:

Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7865
360.236.4700

#BP (boiler plate) added 3/12/10 lh. Checked licensing info & added updated CTW content (fees) 3/30/11, cj. Update fees 3/18/12 lh. No change from what is in tag insert file, 4/24/13 or 3/23/15, 1/9/17 cj. okay 3/13.18 lh, 3/19/19 cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Psychiatrists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by years of experience, area of the country, and hours worked. The doctor's skill, personality, and professional reputation also affect wages. Self-employed psychiatrists generally earn more than those who are not self-employed.

Salaried psychiatrists who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan. Psychiatrists who are self-employed must provide their own insurance and retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 12% of doctors (include psychiatrists) are self-employed. Information about the percentage of self-employed psychiatrists is not available.

Major employers:

• Psychiatrists' offices
• Hospitals
• Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

Demand will grow much faster than average for this occupation. New health care laws will mean that more people have access to mental health care. In addition, there will be a growing need to treat the aging population who face dementia and other age-related problems.

Psychiatrists who are willing to move to rural and low-income areas should have little trouble finding a job.

Other resources

American Medical Association 

American Medical Association - Medical Student Section 

Aspiring Docs Website from the American Association of Medical Colleges 

Explore Health Careers: Psychiatrist - DO/MD 

Society for Neuroscience 
1121 14th Street NW, Suite 1010
Washington, DC 20005

The Student Doctor Network 

Washington Osteopathic Medical Association 
PO Box 1187
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
425.677.3930

Washington State Medical Association 
2001 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2700
Seattle, WA 98121
800.552.0612
206.441.9762

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Psychiatrists (29-1066.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

• Psychiatrist (070.107-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Investigative/Social/Artistic

COPSystem

• Service Professional