Introduction

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.

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Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017