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Psychiatrists

Under the title Psychiatrists, workers diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders. A regular part of the work is to prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. On the six-type interest model it reads ISC, meaning research, analysis and working through hard problems comes first, followed by helping, teaching or caring for people. Plan on graduate school and often five years or more of related experience; O*NET labels this extensive preparation. Strength in active listening, social perceptiveness, and critical thinking helps most here. One core duty is to gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.

What they do

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.

Main tasks

  • Prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
  • Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.
  • Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
  • Counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.
  • Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
  • Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Service Orientation

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on active listening and social perceptiveness.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 2.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ISC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Post-Doctoral Training. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Adolescent Psychiatrist
  • Adult Psychiatrist
  • Attending Psychiatrist
  • Board Certified Psychiatrist
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.