Careers in Psychiatry
The stress of modern life can take its toll on one’s mental health. The pressures arising out of factors like expectations, attachment, fear, anxieties, attitudes, traumas, experiences, handicaps, ignorance may manifest in the form of mental illness. A psychiatrist may be able to snap such patients, out of their unhealthy mental states.
What is psychiatry?
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatristsare qualifieddoctors who diagnose and treat mental illnesses and problems through medication and psychoanalytical techniques.
The treatment has two major branches:
Psychotherapy involves the application of psychological techniques to the treatment of mental illnesses. This is a non-drug or non-surgical technique. The doctor applies psychoanalytical techniques to probe into the psyche of a patient by helping him to open up and express himself.
In Psychiatry, medical therapies are used and the organic source of the disease is targeted. The physical and behavioural symptoms are diagnosed, and the patient may be prescribed medical drugs for treatment.
Who can be a psychiatrist?
To prescribe medical therapies, the psychiatrist has to be a doctor. A psychiatrist usually holds a post-graduate degree in psychiatry after completing the MBBS course. This can be a diploma (2 years), or an MD course (3 years).
Alternatively, he/ she can be from the Arts stream, depending on the area of specialisation.
Career paths
An arts graduate may be complete an MA in psychology, with training in clinical psychology. One can start working in a hospital after doing the course.
The stress of modern life can take its toll on one’s mental health. The pressures arising out of factors like expectations, attachment, fear, anxieties, attitudes, traumas, experiences, handicaps, ignorance may manifest in the form of mental illness. A psychiatrist may be able to snap such patients, out of their unhealthy mental states.
What is psychiatry?
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatristsare qualifieddoctors who diagnose and treat mental illnesses and problems through medication and psychoanalytical techniques.
The treatment has two major branches:
Psychotherapy involves the application of psychological techniques to the treatment of mental illnesses. This is a non-drug or non-surgical technique. The doctor applies psychoanalytical techniques to probe into the psyche of a patient by helping him to open up and express himself.
In Psychiatry, medical therapies are used and the organic source of the disease is targeted. The physical and behavioural symptoms are diagnosed, and the patient may be prescribed medical drugs for treatment.
Who can be a psychiatrist?
To prescribe medical therapies, the psychiatrist has to be a doctor. A psychiatrist usually holds a post-graduate degree in psychiatry after completing the MBBS course. This can be a diploma (2 years), or an MD course (3 years).
Alternatively, he/ she can be from the Arts stream, depending on the area of specialisation.
Career paths
An arts graduate may be complete an MA in psychology, with training in clinical psychology. One can start working in a hospital after doing the course.
A qualified psychiatrist, that is a doctor who is pursuing the MD degree has to write a thesis on a particular topic under the guidance of a supervisor. Alternatively, one can pursue Diploma in Psychiatric medicine (DPM).
The major institutes in India are National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore and the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. The other important medical colleges are the AIIMS, New Delhi, the PGI Chandigarh.
Future Prospects
Psychiatrists can act as counselors in educational institutions or work with the Human Resource (HR) department of in Industrial or Corporate organisations. They can also assist criminal investigations.
A private practice is a lucrative option for psychiatrists, with depression being a common phenomenon affecting couples, children; almost every section of the society today.
A psychiatrist can earn anywhere starting from Rs 100 per consultation, in government hospitals, to Rs 5000 per patient, per consultation in private practices.
Institutions/ Universities with Courses in Psychiatry
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,Mumbai
B. M. Institute of Mental Health, Ahmedabad
Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi
Christian Medical College, Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, New Delhi
Karnataka University, Dharwad (Karnataka)
Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
Medical College, Madras
National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore
Post Graduate Institute, Chandigarh
Punjab University, Chandigarh
Tata Institute of Social Sciences,Mumbai
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
University of Madras, Chennai
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