Psychiatry
Psychiatry is a medical field concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental health conditions.
A doctor who works in psychiatry is called a psychiatrist. Unlike other mental health professionals, such as psychologists and counsellors, psychiatrists must be medically qualified doctors who have chosen to specialise in psychiatry. This means they can prescribe medication as well as recommend other forms of treatment.
Most psychiatrists work as part ofcommunity mental health teams (CMHTs), in outpatientclinics or hospital wards.Somecarry out sessions in GP surgeries.
Read about the difference between psychiatry and psychology, and find out about the conditions psychiatrists may treat, how to get an appointment, and what your appointments may involve.
Mental health conditions that may be diagnosed and treated by a psychiatrist include: Generalised anxiety disorder phobias obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) post-traumatic stress disorde
You'll usually need a referral from your GP or another doctor to see a psychiatrist on the NHS. Your GP may refer you directly to a psychiatrist or to a member of a local mental health team, who can
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 th