Psychiatrists are physicians who diagnose and treat people for mental illnesses. They use a variety of modalities to provide treatment including psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication. The psychiatrist sees patients who come to their offices or are hospitalized.

  • 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.
  • Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
  • Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
  • 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.
  • Counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.
  • Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients' conditions or treatment.
  • Teach, take continuing education classes, attend conferences or seminars, or conduct research and publish findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.
  • Review and evaluate treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists or medical professionals.
  • Prepare and submit case reports or summaries to government or mental health agencies.
  • Serve on committees to promote or maintain community mental health services or delivery systems.
Work Context
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 99% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 92% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 95% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 88% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Electronic Mail — 89% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 82% responded "Extremely important".
  • Contact With Others — 53% responded "Contact with others most of the time".
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Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
  • Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
  • Present medical research reports.
  • Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
  • Treat patients using psychological therapies.
  • Prescribe treatments or therapies.
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Knowledge

Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology
  • Epic Systems Hot Technology
  • Sigmund Software Sigmund Enterprise Management
  • SoftPsych Psychiatric Diagnosis
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Netsmart Technologies Avatar Clinical Workstation CWS
  • Texas Medical Software SpringCharts EMR
  • UnisonCare UniCharts
  • Psychiatric assessment software
  • ADL Data Systems OptimumClinicals Electronic Health Record
  • MEDITECH Behavioral Health Clinicals
  • Advantage Software Psych Advantage
  • Allscripts Sunrise Clinical Manager
  • Cerner ProFile
  • Computer Assisted Diagnostic Interview CADI software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Epic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System
  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • ICANotes
  • Integrated Systems Management OmniMD
  • MDofficeManager MediVoxx
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
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