Careers in Medicine: Specialty Information

Psychiatry

Nature of the work

Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses including mental, addictive and emotional disorders. Mental illnesses, including addictions, are common. Like other medical illnesses, mental illnesses range from severe and life-threatening disorders, to relatively mild and self-limiting conditions.

Psychiatrists can receive training in the following subspecialties:

Training/residency information

The residency for psychiatry is four years. Psychiatrists are trained to understand the biologic, psychologic and social components of illness in order to treat the whole person. Residents will receive training in general medical care (at least four months in internal medicine, family medicine and/or pediatrics), neurology (at least two months), and emergency care, in addition to at least 36 months of training in psychiatry. Up to two years of additional training are required to practice in one of the subspecialty areas.

Workforce and salary information

According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are approximately 39,000 psychiatrists and another 6,000 child psychiatrists for a total of 45,000, making psychiatry the fourth largest medical specialty. The number of qualified U.S. Medical Graduates selecting psychiatry residencies is insufficient to fill all of the positions. The annual salary for psychiatrists ranges from $168,251 to $248,195.

For more information

• American Psychiatric Association
• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
• American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Source: The American Board of Medical Specialties, American Psychiatric Association, and the "2006 Physician Compensation Survey," Modern Healthcare. July 17, 2006. (Based on surveys conducted by American Medical Group Association; Cejka Search; Daniel Stern & Associates; Delta Physician Placement; Hay Group; Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service; Jackson & Coker; Martin, Fletcher & Associates; MD Network; Medical Group Management Association; Medicus Partners; Merritt, Hawkins & Associates; Pcific Cos.; Pinnacle Helaht Group; and Sullivan, Cotter & Associates.)

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