Psychiatrists are the physicians charged with studying mental disorders that affect the brain, in order to diagnose, evaluate, prevent and treat them. Some people wonder how to be a psychiatrist, since they want to know what they need to study; Therefore, we will deal with the subject in the most detailed way possible below.
Within psychiatry we can find different branches, such as psychopathology, psychopharmacology and sexology. Which we will also explain later and also, we will explain how to study them.
Find out how to become a psychiatrist
As you may have noticed, in no university is it possible to get a degree in psychiatry (unlike psychology); this means that it is not possible to train as a psychiatrist specifically. Actually, this is a postgraduate or specialty that we must do after completing the medical degree.
What should I study?
Medicine should be studied mainly because we need to acquire knowledge about the body and health in general; for later specialize in mental health, where psychiatry will combine both the biological factors of the body, as well as the psychological, anthropological and sociocultural, in order to study mental illness disorders and the effects that intervene in the behavior of individuals, which are biochemical and environmental.
In a few words, the path you must follow, at least in Spain, is the following:
- Study and finish the medical degree, which lasts six years.
- Training as a psychiatrist, a specialty that lasts four years. Where during that time, internships and residencies will be held.
- Finish training in psychiatry.
Note: When choosing the type of psychiatrist you want to be, you will have the choice of clinical, forensic, biological and geriatric child psychiatrists.
What functions does a psychiatrist fulfill?
The role of the psychiatrist, as we mentioned earlier, is study mental disorders to use said knowledge in the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of the same. At the same time, unlike psychologists, they have the ability to diagnose the patient both physically and mentally; in addition to being able to order laboratory tests and recite drugs.
- Creation and development of different methods that allow diagnosing and therapy for individuals with a mental illness or disorder.
- It can prevent and treat behavior disorders.
- Conduct biomedical research.
- You can make direct assistance.
Psychiatry is for people who want help people with mental disorders or similar conditions; which should be of interest to the student, in the same way as medicine and health.
How is a psychologist different from a psychiatrist?
Psychiatry and psychology collaborate together on some occasions. However, although both careers seem similar, they actually have several differences. If you want to know how to be a psychiatristIt is also important to know how it differs from psychiatry to avoid confusion.
- A psychologist is in charge of studying the behavior of an individual; while the psychiatrist prevents, diagnoses and performs treatments for mental disorders.
- The psychiatrist has the possibility of prescribe drugs to their patients to treat different disorders; while the psychologist should use only his knowledge and techniques to help patients, being possible the need for collaboration with the psychiatrist to treat it with drugs.
In short, they are two different professions with different objectives; but they collaborate when the patient needs both behavioral therapies and the use of medications when the origin of the disorder is biological.
In which universities to study to be a psychiatrist?
As we mentioned, you must first study medicine and then train in psychiatry. Below we will show you the most outstanding universities in Spain in this career:
- Autonomous University of Madrid.
- Complutense University of Madrid.
- University of Navarra.
- Autonomous University of Barcelona.
- University of Barcelona.
What is the salary of a psychiatrist and what is his employment situation like?
Depending on the country, the salary can vary considerably. In addition, it is possible to earn more or less money whether or not the psychiatrist has an office. However, in Spain the salary of a psychiatrist It is approximately € 37.000 gross per year.
Regarding the employment situation, this is a profession with a good salary and a low unemployment rate. In addition, due to the increase in patients with mental disorders or problems, psychiatrists are being highly sought after in different areas, such as public health, scientific research or studies, and both public and private institutions.
We hope this informative article on becoming a psychiatrist has been to your liking. If you have something to contribute or consult, do not forget to use the comment box. Finally, you can help us by sharing the entry on your social networks, possibly someone else has an interest in how to study this interesting profession.
Hello, I just want to ask you if you can take these courses online, thank you