Psychiatrist

A Psychiatrist, or Psychiatric Doctor, is a mental health professional responsible for diagnosing and treating psychiatric disorders, usually through medication. Their duties include studying mood, personality and behavioral disorders, discussing symptoms with patients to determine a diagnosis and prescribing medication to correct chemical imbalances in the patient’s brain.

Psychiatrist duties and responsibilities

A Psychiatrist completes a variety of tasks throughout the day. Their responsibilities typically include the following: 

• Use a variety of methods to evaluate a patient, such as interviewing the patient, their family or other persons. 
• Develop a treatment plan according to the needs of the patient’s needs and extent of emotional, social, cognitive, developmental or behavioral disorder. 
• Treat a patient using psychotherapeutic methods and medication, monitoring the effects of any medication and adjusting treatment where necessary. 
• Consult with the patient’s Primary Care Physician, Nurses or other health care providers. 
• Provide crisis intervention when needed.
• Write and maintain patient and clinical records, including the type of treatment and medication administered.
• Keep up-to-date with professional job knowledge by reading publications, attending educational conferences or maintaining professional networks. 
• Follow ethical and legal policies, procedures and standards.