Specialty Choice: Psychiatry
A psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, addictive, and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders, and adjustment disorders. Most psychiatrists use some form of discussion (individual or group therapy, psychoanalysis, or behavior modification) to evaluate and treat problems, in addition to using pharmacological treatments. (Source: AAMC Careers in Medicine)
Associated Societies
- American Psychiatric Association
- American College of Psychiatrists
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Quick Facts
The following information comes from the National Resident Matching Program's Charting Outcomes in the Match 2014 (PDF) based on matched applicants in the United States.
- Step score averages:
- Mean Step 1 of U.S. Matched Applicants: 220
- Mean Step 2 CK of U.S. Matched Applicants: 233
- Average number of research experiences: 2.5
- Average number of abstracts, presentations and publications: 3.8
- Work and Volunteer:
- Average number of work experiences: 2.9
- Average number of volunteer experiences: 6.6
- Mean number of contiguous ranks of U.S. matched applicants: 9.6
Looking into the Future/Changes in Health Care
1. Earlier diagnosis and early intervention. The past decade has witnessed a surge of progress in identifying individuals at high risk for psychosis or mood disorders. The “prodrome” has become a fertile area of research, with a focus on early “treatment” even before the clinical syndrome of schizophrenia or mania appears. The goal is to try to delay, modify, or ameliorate incipient serious mental illness by using both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
2. A tsunami of genetic discoveries. Almost weekly, psychiatric geneticists are discovering genes associated with serious psychiatric disorders…Ultimately, these genetic discoveries will provide clues to the molecular pathophysiology of major mental disorders, leading to the holy grail of psychiatric treatment: specific, biotechnology-driven, disease-modifying pharmacotherapeutics rather than merely symptom-control agents.
3. Neuroplasticity as treatment target. Over the past few years, structural atrophy of the brain at the cellular and molecular levels has been documented in psychosis, mania, depression, and anxiety. These findings have shifted our perspective of mental illness beyond the simplistic notions of “chemical imbalance.” The new model is progressive neuroplasticity changes in neurons, dendritic spines, neurite extensions, and synapses, (ie, the neuropil), with both grey and white matter reductions impairing brain connectivity and functioning.
4. Neurostimulation for brain repair. Electroconvulsive therapy has been an effective (though sparingly used) psychiatric treatment for decades. Now, a new era of brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders is evolving with the FDA-approved modalities of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and vagal nerve stimulation (VNS). But the next “big thing” may be deep-brain stimulation (DBS), which is becoming a routine treatment for neurologic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. DBS has potential to provide major treatment breakthroughs, and DBS research is progressing rapidly. (Source: Nasrallah, 2009)
Additional Information
- Career Services Focus Newsletter: Psychiatry
- Boonshoft School of Medicine Residency Program
- Boonshoft School of Medicine Residency Program Director: Randy Welton, M.D.
- Boonshoft School of Medicine Department Chair: Igor Elman, M.D.
- BSOM Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network (PsychSIGN)
- Search for recent Wright State graduates who matched in psychiatry
- Association of American Medical Colleges Careers in Medicine: Psychiatry
See the Career Essentials Pilot Page regarding specialty specific advice for more detailed information and resources.
References
- American Psychiatric Association medical student page.
- Nasrallah, Henry A. Psychiatry’s future is here. Here are 6 trends that will affect your practice. Current Psychiatry, Vol. 8, No. 2 / February 2009.
