Psychiatrist: Specialties & What They Do

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and seeking help when you’re struggling is a sign of strength, not weakness. A psychiatrist is a key figure in the mental health field, but many people don’t fully understand what they do or how they differ from other professionals. 

What Is a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Unlike other mental health professionals, a psychiatrist has a medical degree, allowing them to assess both the psychological and physical aspects of a patient’s condition. 

What Is the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

• Psychiatrist: A medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who completes a three-year residency in psychiatry. They can diagnose conditions, conduct therapy, and, most importantly, prescribe medication and other medical treatments. They often treat more complex conditions that require a combination of therapy and medication.
• Psychologist: Typically holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology. They are experts in psychotherapy (talk therapy) and psychological testing but are not medical doctors. 

Psychiatrist vs. Therapist vs. Neurologist

• Psychiatrist: A medical doctor who treats mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They can prescribe medication and conduct various forms of therapy.
• Therapist: A general term for a mental health professional who provides talk therapy. This can include licensed professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. They typically have a master’s degree but cannot prescribe medication.
• Neurologist: A medical doctor specializing in disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. While some neurological conditions can cause psychiatric symptoms, a neurologist focuses on the physical, anatomical causes, whereas a psychiatrist focuses on the cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

What Does a Psychiatrist Do?

• Diagnose mental health conditions 
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations that include medical and psychological tests, patient interviews, and a review of family and medical history.
• Create individualized treatment plans that may include a combination of medication, mental therapy, and other medical treatments.
• Prescribe medication to help manage symptoms and correct chemical imbalances in the brain.
• Monitor and adjust treatment to ensure effectiveness and manage any side effects.

Mental Health Conditions Psychiatrists Treat

• Mood Disorders: Conditions like major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, characterized by significant shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and activity levels.
• Anxiety Disorders: Conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder, which involve excessive fear and worry that interfere with daily life.
• Psychotic Disorders: Conditions like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder that cause a person to lose touch with reality, often leading to hallucinations and delusions.
• Substance Use Disorders: The compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite harmful consequences. Psychiatrists help manage the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.
• Eating Disorders: Conditions such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which involve severe disturbances in eating behaviors.

How Psychiatrists Treat Mental Illness

A psychiatrist uses a variety of methods to treat mental health conditions, often combining different approaches for the best outcome.

Medications

A psychiatrist can prescribe different types of medications to help manage symptoms. Such as :

• Antidepressants: Used to treat depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Antipsychotics: Used to manage psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Mood Stabilizers: Prescribed to level out extreme mood swings in individuals with bipolar disorder.
• Stimulants: Used primarily to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by improving focus and concentration.

Psychotherapy

Also known as talk therapy, this involves a professional talking with a patient to help them understand and work through their emotional and behavioral challenges. For example,

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A goal-oriented therapy that helps patients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
• Psychoanalysis: A more intensive therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious feelings influence present behavior.

Others

In addition to medication and talk therapy, some psychiatrists use other medical treatments for severe or treatment-resistant conditions.

• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): A medical procedure involving a brief electrical stimulation of the brain, most often used for severe depression that hasn’t responded to other treatments.
• dTMS, or deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: an advanced form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) that uses magnetic fields to stimulate deep brain structures to improve symptoms like depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Quality Mental Health Services – Bangkok Mental Health Hospital

Choosing the right mental health provider is a critical step toward recovery. At Bangkok Mental Health Hospital (BMHH), we understand the unique challenges of mental illness and provide compassionate, expert care. Our team of experienced psychiatrists and other mental health professionals offers a full range of services, from diagnosis and medication management to psychotherapy and specialized treatments like dTMS. If you or a loved one is struggling, we’re here to help you navigate the path to wellness.

For quality mental health support, contact us today to find a psychiatrist in Bangkok who can help you take the first step toward a healthier mind.

• Phone: 02-589-1889
• Line: @bmhh
• Mail: [email protected]
• Location: Bangkok Mental Health Hospital

Article By
Pathamabhorn Thongsookdee, M.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Bangkok Mental Health Hospital (BMHH)