Psychiatry

A psychiatrist can be involved in many different aspects of a person’s care. This may include:

• Diagnosis and Assessment: Psychiatrists assess and diagnose mental health conditions through consultations, interviews, and sometimes psychological testing. They consider the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and overall functioning.

• Treatment Planning and Management: They develop and implement treatment plans, which may include prescribing medications and recommending other therapeutic interventions. Psychiatrists closely monitor patients’ responses to treatments and make adjustments as necessary.

• Therapy: Many psychiatrists offer psychotherapy (talk therapy) themselves, or they may work with other therapists. This can involve cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or other therapeutic approaches depending on the patient’s needs.

• Coordination of Care: Psychiatrists often work within multidisciplinary teams that include psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists. They coordinate care and communicate with other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive treatment.

• Crisis Intervention and Support: They provide support during mental health crises, offering immediate intervention and stabilisation, and helping to plan for ongoing care and support post-crisis.

Psychiatrists work in all aspects of mental health care. A psychiatrist may be involved in your care for a number of reasons, this includes if your mental health condition: 

• is complex or difficult to diagnose
• involves suicidal ideas or plans
• is severe or happens suddenly
• needs medication that only a psychiatrist can prescribe
• isn’t responding to standard treatment through your GP (family doctor).

During your first appointment, your psychiatrist will carry out an initial assessment. They’ll look at both your mental and physical health, and may ask:

• about the problem that brought you to see them
• general questions about your life and thoughts
• to carry out a simple physical examination, such as checking your blood pressure – for example, before prescribing certain medications
• for information from other sources, such as your GP, relatives and social workers

After assessing your condition, your psychiatrist may prescribe medication or recommend other treatments, such as counselling.

The number of times you need to see a psychiatrist and the length of each appointment will depend on your circumstances.

A psychiatrist may continue to manage your treatment or they may refer you to other community mental health services in your area. These services work in small units or clinics and aim to help people manage their illness so they can lead a normal life within the community.

A psychiatrist is a medically-qualified practitioner who will have spent 5-6 years training to be a doctor. They will then have worked as a doctor in general medicine and surgery for at least a year. They will then have had at least 6 years of further training in helping people with psychological problems.