Specializations of Physicians Who Specialize in Psychiatry
A Calgary Psychiatrist working in Psychiatry is in the medical field devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various mental illnesses. These include a variety of maladaptive maladjustments related to behavior, mood, cognition, perception, and emotions. In the United States, psychiatry covers a wide range of issues affecting people from all walks of life.
Some of the common problems that are treated in psychiatry include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and addiction, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, there are specific specializations within this broad field. These are anxiety counseling and depression counseling, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Manic Depression: The manic phase of depression is medically termed as bipolar disorder. The most common symptoms of bipolar disorder include an inflated feeling of self-worth, unusually rapid speech, motor difficulties, decreased need for sleep, irritability, and increased energy level. Bipolar disorder can result from genetic or environmental factors, but it often begins during the teenage years. For more information on bipolar disorder, contact your doctor.
Psychotherapy: This is another specialization within psychiatry. Psychotherapy is a psychological treatment used to treat psychological disorders. A psychotherapist helps the patient to deal with feelings and behaviors related to anxiety, depression, fear, guilt, or anger. A psychiatrist cannot diagnose a particular type of psychotherapy – such as art therapy, hypnotherapy, interpersonal therapy, or group therapy – unless he or she is trained in that particular area of study. Consultation with a psychiatrist concerning your psychotherapy treatment is very important.
Addiction Psychiatry: Addiction psychiatry is also an important specialization in psychiatry. Addiction refers to any psychological condition that is caused by an over or under dependence on a drug or substance. Unlike clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses that do not require medical treatment, addiction is a condition that must be treated in order to improve quality of life. A psychiatrist who specializes in addiction psychiatry is called an addiction psychiatrist. Many addicts choose to enter into this line of work because it provides them a safe platform to pursue their passion.
All four years of graduate school can be dedicated to graduate studies in psychiatry. In order to graduate in this field, you will need to take one of the following four years. First Year Pre-Psychology Majors: Pre-psychologists typically study psychology at a junior college or community college. You will receive four years of pre-med courses, which include biology, chemistry, physics, and math. If your major in Pre Psychology was psychology, you will also need a minimum of two years of specialized training.
Forensic/ Geriatric psychiatry: As the name suggests, forensic or geriatric psychiatry includes a focus on older adults and their mental health. Most forensic psychiatrists work with the victims or their relatives. You will often work with ex-offenders, including sex offenders, gang members, criminals, and the mentally ill. Some of these professionals may work in hospitals, but many work at county and state departments. Many forensic psychiatrists work with toxicology and allergy testing.
Post-graduate residency: Most psychiatrists specialize in one area of psychiatry before obtaining their master’s degree. Some opt to obtain their doctorate degrees in areas unrelated to any one specialty, such as counseling. To qualify for a residency, a psychiatrist must complete either a three-year residency or a four-year residency program. Both types of residency program allow psychiatrists to concentrate on one specific area of psychiatric practice. A few of the different areas of residency are available to psychiatrists who want to specialize in psychiatric nursing.
Many psychiatrists work together with mental health professionals to treat patients with mental illnesses. Addiction, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychological problems often require many different treatments, many of which must be conducted by more than one professional. Because of this, many psychiatrists specialize in one specific illness or group of illnesses. These professionals may also work together with psychologists or addiction counselors to provide individuals with additional services that help them to deal with their mental health problems.
