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Last Updated On 05 Jan, 2021
A career as a psychiatrist involves prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. They can prescribe medicines unlike psychologists, and offer a range of treatments such as medication, general care including assessing your physical health and effects of medication, psychological treatments, and brain stimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
It is an exciting and interesting career path that enables you to make a real difference in the lives of people who are suffering from some mental disorder. It is also a good field to pursue if you are particularly interested in knowing how the mind works.
Those wondering 'How to Become a Psychiatrist?' can check out the criteria mentioned below:
While studying psychiatry, you will have the option of choosing from a variety of specialisations that can help you decide what kind of a psychiatrist you want to be. Below is the list of various job profiles:
Substance Abuse Therapy
If you choose to specialise in substance abuse therapy, you will deal with patients who have dependencies on substances such as alcohol and drugs. You will be responsible for treating these patients individually or in groups, prepare recovery plans for them with their family members and prevent future substance abuse. You can work in a substance abuse rehabilitation centre.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists deal with children (up to the age of 18) and their families. The child and adolescent psychiatrist performs a diagnostic exam to assess the current problem and evaluate if the problem is genetic, physical, cognitive, educational, developmental or related to family, society or peer pressure.
Adult Psychiatry
This branch of psychiatry deals with the treatment of adult disorders (people who are above the age of 18). Depending on the disorder, diagnoses can include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, general psychiatry, addiction medicine and any other issues that cause mental stress.
Psychosomatic medicine
Psychosomatic medicine, which is also known as consultation-liaison psychiatry involves a complex diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric symptoms and disorders. Psychosomatic medicine psychiatrists counsel patients regarding emotional and psychiatric issues, which affect their health. They create care plans, including the prescription of medicines, and run diagnostic tests.
Emergency Psychiatry
Emergency psychiatry deals with the application of psychiatry in emergency situations. Examples of such situations include attempted suicide, depression, psychosis, substance abuse or violence. Care of patients who are in need of intervention includes crisis stabilization of disorders such as acute or chronic mental disorders.
Geriatric Psychiatry
Geriatric Psychiatry focuses on the evaluation, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental disorders in the elderly. Some of these disorders include dementia, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. The geriatric psychiatrist is responsible for listening and responding to the needs and concerns of older adults and working out a treatment plan.
There are plenty of job opportunities for psychiatrists as it is a lucrative career. Psychiatrists can seek employment in:
The responsibilities of a Psychiatrist include the following:
The average salary in this profession can range from Rs. 123,252 - Rs 1,957,428. This number depends on the years of experience one has in this field and also the institute from where you have studied. The salary package earned by Psychiatrists in India based on their experience is mentioned below:
| Years of Experience | Salary Package |
| Entry Level | INR 9.07 LPA |
| Early Career | INR 9.15 LPA |
| Mid Career | INR 10 LPA |
| Experienced | INR 12 LPA |
| Late Career | INR 15 LPA |
Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual and company to company.
Apart from studying the course curriculum, you can also refer a few books to gain more in-depth knowledge of the subject. Listed below are some of the best books and study material on psychiatry:
This profession is a bit challenging as psychiatrists are faced with the difficult task of diagnosing and treating patients with mental health disorders. However, the advantages that it offers are worth the efforts and the challenge. Let’s take a look at some of the pros
Flexible work environment
Psychiatrists have the option of working in different environments such as psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, NGOs, clinics or can have their own private practice. They have the flexibility to work in a variety of work settings and the work environment is usually calm and private.
Growth Opportunities
The field of psychiatry has many opportunities for growth and career advancement. Psychiatrists can also choose to mentor students, teach at universities or undertake research studies.
Helping People
Psychiatry is a profession which is devoted to helping others. So, the gratification and job satisfaction that one gets out of it can be really rewarding.
High Earning Job
Psychiatry is a high paying job. Psychiatrists who have their own private practice earn even better than those who work in hospitals or clinics. The monetary benefits can be quite rewarding.
Though psychiatry is a rewarding field but just like everything, there are certain disadvantages to being a psychiatrist. Some of those are:
Stressful Job
Dealing with patients can be draining and stressful. One of the biggest challenges of this is the involvement with people and managing their mental and emotional struggles. They have to deal with people from varied backgrounds and with various kinds of ailments. Psychiatrists have to master the art of dealing effectively in such cases and practice stress management techniques.
Erratic Hours
Though one of the advantages is that you have a flexible schedule but at the same time if you have your own practice, psychiatrists have to be on call and manage patients. The patient issue can arise even at an inconvenient time.
Work-life balance
Apart from meeting patients and help with their diagnosis and treatments, psychiatrists also have to put in work to review the patient notes, and also attend after-hours emergency calls from patients. This hampers the work-life balance, leaving psychiatrists with less time for their personal commitments.
Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.
A Psychiatrist anywhere from INR 9 lakhs per annum to INR 15 lakhs per annum. Depending upon the organisation and country one is working in, the salary package can even go as high as INR 50 lakhs per annum. So, yes, a Psychiatrist earns well.
The responsibilities of a Psychiatrist include treating sudden mental illness, helping with managing a long-term mental health condition, giving advice about lifestyle changes, admitting patients to a hospital, if required, etc.
A psychiatrist can work in Hospitals, Rehabilitation centres, Clinics, NGOs, etc.
To become a Psychiatrist, you must possess the following skills: Compassion, Empathy, Ability to treat patients with respect and understanding, Resilient to work in challenging situations, etc.
To become a Psychiatrist, you will first have to complete your schooling or Class 12 in Science stream with Biology as one of the main subjects. Then, you will have to pursue MBBS. After that, you will have to either complete MD or a diploma in Psychiatric medicine (DPM).
Some of the best books to help you begin your career as a Psychiatrist are:
Depending upon the work experience and the organisation one is working with, a Psychiatrist can earn between INR 9 LPA to INR 19 LPA.
To become a Psychiatrist, you must have complete MBBS and then MD. You can also go for the relevant Diploma courses.
No, there are certain illegal activities like murder, child abuse etc which cannot be kept secret by a psychiatrist if a patient has confessed to it.
Patients are most likely to not reveal their behaviour or issue to their psychiatrists.
Yes, there is a high probability of psychiatrists suffering from mental illness as well.
No, AI cannot replace psychiatrists in the foreseeable future but the intervention of AI will definitely impact their jobs.
Psychiatry is a much better career option than psychology because of the mine that the psychiatrists make and their qualification rendering them capable of prescribing medication in addition to offering therapy.
Yes, the demand for psychiatrists has risen sharply in the past few years due to more people falling victim to their mental demons and a high percentage of psychiatrists retiring every year.
Yes, a psychiatrist earns way more than a psychologist simply because of the fact that psychiatrists are medical doctors.
Becoming a psychiatrist is worth it as the psychiatrists can help improve the mental health of their patients eventually improving their lives.
On average, a psychiatrist can earn in the range of INR 9 LPA to INR 10 LPA.
Yes, Psychiatrists have a stressful life due to the fact that they develop a personal relationship with their patients.
You could become a Paediatrician after studying M.D. (Doctor of Medicine).
You could become a General Physician , a Doctor , a Surgeon , a Paediatrician after studying M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery).
