Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the field of medicine related to the diagnosis, treatment and study of mental disorders. A physician that specialises in psychiatry is known as a psychiatrist, which is not to be confused with a psychologist. While a psychologist focuses on psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, a psychiatrist typically focuses on medicine as a form of treatment. However, many psychiatrists also undertake training in psychoanalysis and further training in psychotherapy in attempt to provide the best possible care for patients.

Psychiatrists must consider social aspects as well as biological aspects in their scope for treatment, and typically psychiatry deals with mental illness, learning disabilities and personality disorders. Some disorders and conditions that a psychiatrist may treat include:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Clinical Depression
• Bipolar
• Schizophrenia
• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Tic Disorders
• Plus many more

Psychiatrists may utilise different aspects of neuroscience, biology, biochemistry and pharmacology. There role has typically been to counsel patients, prescribe medication, perform tests including neuroimaging and conduct physical examinations to guide their diagnosis and treatments. The role of ethics is also extremely important in psychiatry.

If you need to find psychiatrists near your local area, search the online physician database at physicians.com.au. You will find relevant details about a psychiatrist of your choosing in the interactive profiles such as address and phone numbers, and then simply call to make an appointment or find out more information from physicians in the field of psychiatry.