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Who is a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatry is the art of teaching people how to stand on their own feet while reclining on couches ~ Anonymous
In career as psychiatrist, individuals are also known as doctors who specialise in mental health which also includes substance use disorders. Once you are a psychiatrist you are qualified to assess the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems. Psychiatrist careers required working in either a hospital setting or they can also work in their personalised clinic. Psychiatrists are doctors, unlike psychologists, and must assess patients to decide if their symptoms are the consequence of physical sickness, a mix of physical and mental illness, or is it only mental.
Students can pursue B.R.Sc. (Bachelor in Rehabilitation Science), B.ASLP (Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology) Course to opt for psychiatrist career. Here in this article we will be providing you with how to become a psychiatrist after 12th, details about psychiatry education, is psychiatry a science, psychiatrist course eligibility, what do psychiatrist do and how much do psychiatrists make.

Psychiatrist in a Nutshell
Individuals in psychiatrist careers work in nursing homes, hospitals, health centres, polyclinics, medical colleges and research institutions. Therapists recommend medication, and may likewise utilize psychotherapy. Psychiatrists have wide preparation in a bio-psycho-social way to assess as well as manage mental illness. A specialist generally fills in as the clinical pioneer of the multi-disciplinary group, which may involve psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and nursing staff.
As a component of the clinical evaluation process, psychiatrists may utilise a psychological status assessment; a physical assessment; brain imaging, for example, a computerised tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scan and blood testing.
Quick Facts for Psychiatrist
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Industry
Healthcare
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Average Salary in India
₹499000
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Suitable for
Male, Female
Individuals can take up a career as psychiatrists, it is not gender-specific. Males, women, and others can choose a career as psychiatrists. An individual from any gender type can become a psychiatrist. This profession is suitable for all gender types. Being a psychiatrist is one of the most sought after professions where the gender of the individual is insignificant.
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Any special needs
Yes
Everyone, including those with physical disabilities, is appropriate for individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrist. The career as psychiatrist is well suited to everyone, even those with special needs. When it comes to the job it is better to be physically fit for a better and efficient way of working. However, there is no hard and fast rule that it is compulsory to be physically fit. As long as the disability doesn’t come in the way of one’s work they are good to go for this field. One needs to be mentally strong in order to be in this job.
Table of Contents for Psychiatrist
What is the role of Psychiatrist?
Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists assess all of their mental and physical symptoms. As part of their work, a psychiatrist can: provide urgent care for a sudden mental illness. Here in this article, we will be providing you with how to become a psychiatrist after 12th.
Evaluate
Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists must have the ability to analyze as well as evaluate patient’s data and test in order to diagnose the nature and extent of mental disorder. Having the capability to evaluate is important in the profession of a psychiatrist as he or she is required to make several judgments with respect to the patient's treatment.
Psychotherapeutic treatments
Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists use psychotherapeutic treatments in order to prescribe, direct, as well as administer treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, and/or behavioral disorders. This treatment is important in order to take the patient in confidence so that the psychiatrist can take measures to heal the patient.
Collaboration
There are several cases that a psychiatrists deal with and many or a few of them may require him or her to collaborate with other physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals in order to discuss the current treatment plans and progress of the patient. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists may take suggestions from their end in order to help the patient recover sooner.
Gather patient information
The job of psychiatrists is dealing with mental problems that are not visible from eyes; he or she cannot put a bandage on a wound to heal it. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists need to gather and maintain patient information and records, including social and medical history obtained from patients, relatives, and other professionals for the patient’s speedy recovery.
Design treatment plans
Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists deal with mental issues of a patient. Every mind works differently, therefore, a psychiatrist must design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatment methods for the speedy recovery of the patient.
Examining
In order to treat a patient, a psychiatrist needs to conduct several examinations so that he or she can diagnose the actual problem that the patient is dealing with. And according to the result of the examination, several treatment methods are used for the patient’s recovery.
Advisory
Not everyone understands the level or the degree of the problem a psychiatric patient is going through simply because the wounds are not visible. Therefore, a psychiatrist advises and informs guardians, relatives, and significant others of patients' conditions and treatment and they also make them understand how to take sensitive care of the patient.
Review
For better results a psychiatrist, reviews and evaluates treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists and medical professionals that have been conducted on the patient in order to have a better understanding of his or her problems.
Research work
A psychiatrist does a lot of research work as not every aspect of mental illness has been covered so far. Therefore a psychiatrist conducts research, and publishes findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, and behavioral states and disorders.
Types of a Psychiatrist
In this section, we have discussed all the types of jobs in a psychiatrist career.
Geriatric psychiatry: A geriatric psychiatrist is also known as geropsychiatry. They are psychiatrists of old age. This type of child psychiatrist job description includes conducting tests and taking measures in order to treat the mental illness of people due to old age. According to research, a geriatric psychiatrist is comparatively in more demand in a developing nation than any other nation.
Psychosomatic medicine: It is a treatment process in which the mind and the body of the patient are cured. The mental illness not just affects the patient’s mental emotion but also affects his or her physical structure. It aims at finding relations between the patient’s social, psychological, as well as behavioural factors.
Addiction psychiatry: It is a specialized branch of psychiatry wherein a patient who is dealing with any sort of addiction which may be more than one in number is evaluated, diagnosed, and then treated. The addiction can be of something that seems as harmless as food and as harmful as illegal drugs.
Forensic psychiatry: A forensic psychiatrist specialises in this branch of psychology in order to deal with criminology. A forensic psychiatrist interfaces between the field of law as well as medicine. Psychiatrist careers required treating criminals who are in prison.
Clinical neurophysiology: A clinical neurophysiologist uses a computer, electrical, magnetism, and electronic methods for researching and recording the capacity of the cerebrum, the spinal cord, spinal roots, the peripheral nerves, and muscle to analyze the disorders of the nervous or the sensory system. Clinical neurophysiologists treat several conditions, for example, epilepsy.
Child and adolescent psychiatry: A child psychiatrist is a specialist who evaluates, diagnoses as well as carry out treatments in order to help them cope up with the mental illness. This type of child psychiatrist job description includes dealing with a number of problems like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and several other problems.
Clinical Psychologist: In order to understand their physical, emotional and behavioural challenges, clinical psychologists consult with clients. Any existing or potential problems may be identified by the psychologist by observations, interviews, and tests. Instead, along with the customer, they devise a rehabilitation plan according to the client's needs. Psychologists periodically monitor the client's progress to ensure that the course of action meets their needs and, if possible, to alter it.
What is the workplace/work environment of Psychiatrist like?
In career as psychiatrist, individuals work in a variety of settings, including private practices, clinics, general and psychiatric hospitals, university medical centres, community agencies, courts and prisons, nursing homes, industry, government, military settings, rehabilitation programs, emergency rooms, hospice programs and many others.
Does Psychiatrist require travelling?
Likely
The job of a psychiatrist doesn’t require travelling. Unless individuals who opt for a career as a psychiatrist wants to go and attend a patient which requires travelling. Otherwise conventionally this job doesn’t require travelling.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, On Call, Work From Home
The job of a psychiatrist is generally a 9-5 one. But, they also work in shifts or during weekends. It depends if the psychiatrist is a solo practitioner he/she can work according to the client requirement. Otherwise, it depends on the hospital or institution they are working for.
Employment Nature
Permanent
The nature of the employment of a psychiatrist is permanent. In career as psychiatrist, individuals are hired by hospitals on a permanent basis mostly.
Work Place
clinic
Individuals who opt for a career as a psychiatrist usually work in a hospital, where they look after the patients' mental needs. In some cases, psychiatrists also have their own setup or a clinic where they practice their trade. Some psychiatrists are also available over the phone or might pay a visit to the patient's residence.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
Individuals in psychiatrist careers are concentrated mainly in urban settings. There are very few in semi-urban settings and there is almost no presence of a psychiatrist in a rural setting.
Time Pressure
Likely
Time pressure is moderate in the case of psychiatrists. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists work on weekends as well as in the evening hours. A lot of psychiatrists also do part-time work. In career as psychiatrist, individuals operate approximately forty-five hours a week while psychiatrists who are self-employed work more than this per week. So the time pressure for psychiatrists is more when working independently.
Overtime Details
Individuals in psychiatrist career work about eight to nine hours per day and up to twelve hours when required. While several psychiatrists work independently, some individuals work for reputed companies or medical institutions as part of a team.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 48 Hours
The average psychiatrist spends more than 48 hours each week at work. Professional activities include administration, teaching, consultation and research. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists spend over 60 per cent of their time with patients.
How to become a Psychiatrist?
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Psychiatrist?
There are several types of career opportunities in a psychiatrist career in India. But, to be able to grab an opportunity one must possess some skills in the career as a psychiatrist.
Sensitivity: Individuals who opt for a career as a psychiatrist must be able to judge how another is responding and why the patient is responding as such. Particularly when managing patients, a psychiatrist should utilize his/her own understanding and perception to decide potential dangers and advantages. For instance, choosing whether a patient may get perilous to himself or others. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists should be sensitive to issues, perceiving that a problem exists regardless of whether no prompt solution is clear.
Reasoning: As a psychiatrist additionally one needs to have both inductive and deductive thinking aptitudes in order to be successful in his/her career. Deductive thinking includes applying well-established realities and general standards to an issue to locate an intelligent answer. Whereas inductive thinking, on the other hand, includes joining grouped bits of information to arrive at a solution. At the point when a psychiatrist takes an account of occasions that seem to have no connection to one another and consolidates them to discover a pattern, then it is applying inductive thinking.
Communication skills: Individuals in psychiatrist career should be good listeners. They must be able to concentrate on the words, tone, and non-verbal communication utilized by others to pass on a thought or feeling. At the point when it is the ideal opportunity for the psychiatrist to talk, they should have the option to do as such so that the patient can't in any way, misunderstand what you are stating. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists should likewise have the option to comprehend written notes, reports, or records with the goal that others can comprehend what they are trying to pass on.
Compassion: In career as psychiatrist, individuals are a matter of first importance healers. Therefore, they need to be compassionate towards other people. They should be understanding about the issues, difficulties, and requirements of others to be the best. In clinical practice, a psychiatrist may hear explanations that stun, outrage or repulse them personally. But, they should keep up their self-restraint and discretion, remain quiet about their feelings, and should entirely focus on helping the patient.
Stress Tolerance: Working as a psychiatrist can at times be stressful. Sometimes the stresses are brief but intense, such as a patient who unexpectedly becomes extremely agitated. At other times, the stresses are of a longer duration. For example, one might have to persist for many months or even years to achieve a breakthrough with a particular patient. All physicians, including psychiatrists, experience some failures; not all patients can be helped, and not all patients will remain happy with the same physician indefinitely.
Popular Online Medicine Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Psychiatrist?
We have mentioned below certifications that individuals want to establish a career as Psychiatrists.
Internship Availability
It is important to do a long internship in this field so as to gain practical knowledge in the psychiatrists' career. An internship provides the candidate with hands-on experience. No matter how much practical experience or exposure a college gives the individual the amount of learning that is gained by working practically in the field of expertise helps in gaining a lot of experience. It is up to the student where he/she wants to intern. Individuals who opt for a career as psychiatrists can practice under some specialist who is a solo practitioner. They could also do the internship in a hospital or in a small clinic kind of set up.
Also read - Career as counsellor
Career Path Progression for Psychiatrist
Child Adolescent Psychiatrist: The child and adolescent psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and the treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling, and/or behavior affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
Forensic Psychiatrist: Forensic psychiatrists work closely with the legal system to determine the competency of defendants to stand trial, give expert witness testimony in court, help make recommendations for defense tactics and sentencing, help solve crimes, and treat mental illness in criminals
Clinical Psychiatrist: Clinical psychiatrists evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with mental disorders. They may work in offices, hospitals, or mental health clinics. This type of child psychiatrist job description includes prescribing medication or suggest therapy according to their patents' needs.
Prison Psychiatrist: Also known as Correctional psychiatry is a challenging subspecialty that has evolved from the need to provide treatment to the large number of offenders with mental illness that are behind bars. Professionals working in jails and prisons must fully understand the unique nature of this environment and the population treated.
Behavioral specialist: A behavior specialist is a type of psychological counselor who helps those with disabilities or problems that impair learning or social functions. Behavior analysts can find employment in diverse workplaces, including schools, clinics, or government institutions.
Neuropsychologist: Neuropsychologists evaluate and treat people with various types of nervous system disorders. This type of child psychiatrist job description includes working closely with doctors, including neurologists. Illnesses, injuries, and diseases of the brain and nervous system can affect the way a person feels, thinks and behaves.
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Psychiatrist Jobs and Salaries
Forensic psychiatrist
Permanent
- Average Salary 930000
- Starting Salary 40000
- Junior Level Salary 80000
- Senior Level Salary 120000
Job Description
Forensic psychiatrists work closely with the legal system to determine the competency of defendants to stand trial, give expert witness testimony in court, help make recommendations for defense tactics and sentencing, help solve crimes, and treat mental illness in criminals.
Salary Description
The average salary for a forensic psychiatrist is 75,000 INR per month which includes tips, bonuses, and overtime pay. The entry-level salary of a forensic psychiatrist is 50,000 INR per month. The top-level salary of a forensic psychiatrist is 1 lakh INR per month.
Clinical psychiatrist
- Average Salary 68000
- Starting Salary 40000
- Junior Level Salary 70000
- Senior Level Salary 100000
Job Description
Clinical psychiatrists evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with mental disorders. They may work in offices, hospitals or mental health clinics. Clinical psychiatrists may prescribe medication or suggest therapy according to their parents' needs.
Salary Description
The average salary for a clinical psychiatrist is 75,000 INR per month which includes tips, bonuses, and overtime pay. The entry-level salary of a clinical psychiatrist is 50,000 INR per month. The top-level salary of a clinical psychiatrist is 1.1 lakh INR per month.
What is the job outlook for Psychiatrist?
In the psychiatrist career, there is immense growth at this point in time. The market is growing every day. Instead of joining as an assistant psychiatrist in a government or a private hospital, one also has the option to find some lucrative jobs in corporate hospitals. They not only pay them comparatively more but also provide a better job growth opportunity. From the past five years the job opportunity, pay scale as well as growth in the career have all been witnessed. The psychiatrist career outlook is positive and expected to grow in the future as well.
Frequently Asked Questions for Psychiatrist
Que. What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
Ans.Because psychiatrists are trained medical doctors, they can prescribe medications, and they spend much of their time with patients on medication management as a course of treatment. Clinical psychologists focus extensively on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental suffering in patients with behavioral intervention.
Que. What is a psychiatry degree called?
Ans.MD/Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialized in mental health, much like a cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the heart. Psychiatrists used to do "talk therapy" and prescribe medication regularly.
Que. Is there a high demand for a psychiatrist?
Ans.Demand for psychiatrist career has risen sharply in recent years and currently stands at an all-time high, according to an annual report tracking physician recruiting trends. Approximately 40 per cent of psychiatrists are likely to retire over the next five years, Singleton said, with few available to take their place.
Que. Do psychiatrists work on weekends?
Ans.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.
Que. What is the role of Doctor?
Ans.A medical doctor is solely responsible for patients' healthcare services. He or she uses various approaches, such as medicine, immunotherapy or avoidance of causes, to treat diseases, infections, and allergies. To perform surgery on patients, a specialist doctor will sometimes be needed. He or she may also be treating or removing internal organ tumours. A doctor prescribes tests and checks a patient's medical history. He or she holds a check on the progress of patients.
Que. What is the role of Surgeon?
Ans.The job of a surgeon is to conduct a few minutes of minimally trespassing and uncomplicated surgeries, or trespassing and complicated surgeries that take long hours to complete. A surgeon works on a living human body, so their jobs are at high risk.