Psychiatric

Psychiatric refers to the medical discipline of psychiatry and to the clinical practice concerned with mental disorders, cognitive and emotional disturbances, and abnormal behavior. It involves assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, integrating biological, psychological, and social factors within a biopsychosocial framework.

Physicians who specialize in psychiatry, psychiatrists, are medical doctors who complete residency training and may prescribe medications, assess risk, and coordinate care. They work alongside other mental health professionals such as psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists in multidisciplinary teams. Diagnosis commonly uses criteria from DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.

Treatment approaches include pharmacotherapy (antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics), psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, interpersonal), and somatic therapies (electroconvulsive therapy, rTMS, other brain stimulation techniques). Psychosocial interventions, crisis services, and rehabilitation support aim to improve functioning and quality of life.

Care settings range from inpatient psychiatry wards and emergency services to outpatient clinics and community-based programs. Subspecialties cover child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry, reflecting the diverse needs across the lifespan and contexts.

Ethical and legal considerations include informed consent, capacity assessment, confidentiality, and, where permitted by law, involuntary treatment. The field also addresses stigma, patient autonomy, and balancing risks and benefits while safeguarding safety and rights.