Voksenpsykiatri

Voksenpsykiatri is the medical specialty that focuses on psychiatric care for adults, typically spanning late adolescence to older age. Clinicians diagnose and treat mental disorders that present in adulthood, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and substance-use disorders, as well as late-onset neurocognitive conditions and mental health issues associated with medical illness or aging. The term is used in Danish-speaking contexts to denote this specialty.

Practitioners are psychiatrists who have completed specialty training in adult psychiatry. They work across settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, crisis services, and community mental health centers. Treatment combines pharmacotherapy, psychotherapies (for example cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic approaches, and systemic therapies), and psychosocial interventions. In some cases, advanced treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy or neurostimulation may be used. Care often involves collaboration with primary care providers, psychologists, social workers, and rehabilitation services to support functioning and recovery.

Training and organization vary by country but generally include medical school, general medical training, and a residency or specialization in adult psychiatry. Some health systems separate adult psychiatry from child and adolescent or geriatric psychiatry, while others provide continuous care across the lifespan.

Goals of voksenpsykiatri include reducing symptoms, improving daily functioning and quality of life, preventing relapse and crisis, promoting safety, and supporting social participation. The field emphasizes evidence-based practice, individualized care, patient autonomy, and stigma reduction, within an ethical, rights-based framework.