What Does a Psychiatrist Do? A Complete Guide to Psychiatric Care
Author:
Blossom Editorial
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent mental health conditions. What makes a psychiatrist different from other mental health professionals is medical training: because they complete medical school and residency, they can order tests, prescribe medication, and understand how physical and mental health influence each other. In short, a psychiatrist treats the whole person, not just the symptoms.
More than one in five U.S. adults lived with a mental illness in the past year, according to data from a 2022 national survey, yet many people are unsure what a psychiatrist actually does, what conditions they treat, or when it makes sense to see one. This guide covers exactly what a psychiatrist helps with, how psychiatric care differs from seeing a psychologist or therapist, the treatments psychiatrists offer, and what to expect from a first visit.
Key Takeaways
Psychiatrists are medical doctors: They can prescribe medication, order lab and imaging tests, and diagnose both the psychological and physical aspects of a mental health condition, which is the main difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist or therapist. Their medical training also helps them consider physical health conditions that can affect mental health or contribute to psychiatric symptoms.
They treat a wide range of conditions: Psychiatrists help with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and many other mental health conditions, using medication, talk therapy, or both. They are also qualified to provide advanced interventions like transcranial magnetic stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant cases.
Care can happen from home: Research suggests virtual psychiatric care works about as well as in-person care for many conditions, which makes treatment easier to access no matter where you live.
What is a Psychiatrist?
Understanding the training behind the title explains why psychiatrists can do things other mental health providers cannot. A psychiatrist is a physician who finishes four years of medical school and then at least four more years of specialized residency training in psychiatry. That path, usually requiring about 12 years of education after high school, prepares them to assess both the mental and physical sides of a problem.
Many psychiatrists further take an examination administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become board-certified. They may choose to take additional training to specialize in a specific field of psychiatry, like child and adolescent psychiatry or addiction psychiatry. Some may even take other specializations, including family medicine or pediatrics, that enable them to treat physical and mental conditions simultaneously.
This medical foundation matters. Psychiatrists can order blood tests, brain imaging, and other evaluations to rule out physical causes, such as a thyroid problem, that can look like a mental health condition. They also understand that mental health conditions can present with physical symptoms and are qualified to make a diagnosis and treat both psychological and physical symptoms.
Moreover, their knowledge of how a psychiatric medication might interact with other drugs a person takes is central to safe treatment.
Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist vs. Therapist
One of the most common questions people have is how a psychiatrist differs from a psychologist or a therapist. All three are mental health professionals, but their training and what they can do for you are not the same.
Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist
The main difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist comes down to medical training. Psychologists usually hold a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and may provide psychotherapy, psychological assessments, and other psychological services. In most U.S. jurisdictions, psychologists do not prescribe medication, although specially trained psychologists in some jurisdictions may have limited prescribing authority.
Psychologists may offer various types of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. These are evidence-based treatments that are helpful for many mental health conditions and help develop long-term coping skills.
Psychiatrists, as medical doctors, can order and interpret medical tests, make a mental health diagnosis, prescribe and manage medication, and treat the physical side of mental health. Some may also offer psychotherapy. Many people work with both: a psychiatrist for medication and a psychologist for therapy.
Psychiatrist vs. Therapist
"Therapist" is a broad term that includes counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists who provide talk therapy and support. To be a licensed therapist, one needs at least a master’s-level qualification in a psychotherapy-related field. Like psychologists, therapists do not prescribe medication.
They may offer various types of talk therapy, depending on the specialized post-graduate training and certification they have taken. A helpful way to think about how a therapist and psychiatrist differ is that a therapist focuses on talk-based treatment, while a psychiatrist can combine therapy with medical care.
If you are weighing your options, our guide comparing a psychiatrist and a therapist breaks down the differences in more detail.
What Conditions Do Psychiatrists Treat?
Psychiatrists diagnose and treat a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions using the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), along with clinical interviews, medical history, and other relevant assessments. Common conditions a psychiatrist helps with include:
Mood disorders, such as major depression and bipolar disorder
Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety
Attention-related conditions, such as ADHD in children and adults
Trauma-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, such as OCD
Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder
Substance use disorders, often alongside a co-occurring mental health condition
Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder
Sleep problems such as insomnia that affect mental health or occur alongside another mental health condition
Psychiatrists also help with life challenges that may not qualify as a formal diagnosis but still benefit from professional support, such as grief, relationship difficulties, major life transitions, and chronic stress.
Note: For some conditions, such as primary sleep disorder or neurologic conditions, it may be necessary to involve specialty care other than that offered by a psychiatrist.
How Do Psychiatrists Help? Treatment Approaches
There is no single formula for psychiatric care. A psychiatrist tailors treatment to your diagnosis, how severe your symptoms are, your medical history, and what you prefer, and a plan may combine several of the approaches below.
Medication Management
One of the main ways psychiatrists help is by prescribing and closely monitoring psychiatric medications. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication that a psychologist or therapist cannot, and in some cases, medication is paired with therapy. Common categories include:
Antidepressants, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, which help with depression and anxiety. Although initial effects may be seen within the first few weeks, antidepressants typically take several weeks to reach their full effect.
Mood stabilizers, including lithium and certain anti-seizure medications, which may be used to treat or help prevent episodes of mania or depression in bipolar disorder
Antipsychotics, which can ease symptoms like hallucinations or delusions and, depending on the medication, may also help with mood episodes
Anti-anxiety medications, which include short-term options like benzodiazepines and long-term medications including certain antidepressants and buspirone (Buspar)
Stimulants and non-stimulants, which improve focus and reduce impulsivity in ADHD
Your psychiatrist will observe your response, fine-tune the dose when necessary, and check for side effects or interactions during the course of the treatment. They may put you on a different medication if the first medication produces an inadequate response. Finding the right fit can take some patience, and a good provider adjusts the plan with you rather than for you.
Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
Do psychiatrists offer therapy? Many do.
Some psychiatrists provide talk therapy themselves, while others focus on medication and work closely with a therapist who handles counseling. Talk therapy involves working with a trained professional to understand and change the patterns affecting your mental health.
Approaches a psychiatrist may use or recommend include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which targets unhelpful thought and behavior patterns
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which builds skills for managing intense emotions and distress
Psychodynamic therapy, which explores how past/childhood experiences shape the present
Supportive therapy, which focuses on coping and encouragement
Exposure therapy, which gradually exposes individuals to situations or objects they fear, in a controlled manner, to reduce fear and avoidance
Advanced Treatments for Treatment-Resistant Symptoms
When medication and therapy have not brought enough relief, a psychiatrist may suggest additional options for treatment-resistant depression and other stubborn conditions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive treatment that uses low-intensity magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood. rTMS is FDA-cleared for treatment-resistant depression, co-occurring depression and anxiety, OCD, and migraines.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) uses carefully controlled electrical currents under anesthesia and is a well-established and highly effective treatment that may be considered for severe depression, particularly when symptoms are urgent, other treatments have not worked, or a rapid response is needed.
Esketamine (Spravato), a nasal spray given in a provider's office, is another FDA-approved option for treatment-resistant depression. The treatment is available only through a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program and is administered in a certified medical setting and monitored for at least two hours due to its potential for sedative and dissociative effects.
Types of Psychiatrists
Psychiatry includes several subspecialties, and knowing they exist can help you find the right fit for your situation. Common types include:
General (adult) psychiatrists, who treat the full range of mental health conditions in adults
Child and adolescent psychiatrists, who specialize in the mental health of children and teens
Geriatric psychiatrists, who focus on older adults and conditions like dementia-related symptoms
Addiction psychiatrists, who specialize in substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions
Forensic psychiatrists, who work at the intersection of mental health and the legal system
Consultation-liaison psychiatrists, who treat mental health needs in medical settings such as hospitals
Many people see a general psychiatrist, who can treat most conditions and refer to a subspecialist when needed. For everyday mental health care like depression, anxiety, or ADHD, a general adult psychiatrist is usually the right starting point.
Telehealth Psychiatry: Getting Care From Home
Virtual psychiatric care has grown quickly, and the evidence behind it is reassuring. Studies comparing telehealth to in-person care have found comparable results for conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, along with high patient satisfaction, though results vary by condition and type of treatment.
The appeal is practical. Virtual visits remove travel time, fit more easily into a busy schedule, and open access to care for people in areas with few local providers. The trust between patient and provider can still grow over video, and for many people the convenience makes it easier to stay consistent.
What to Expect at Your First Psychiatry Appointment
Knowing what to expect from the first visit can put you at ease. The first appointment, often called a psychiatric evaluation or intake, usually runs 60 to 90 minutes because your psychiatrist is gathering a full picture of your mental and physical health. During the visit, your psychiatrist may:
Ask about your current symptoms, when they began, and what tends to trigger them
Review your medical history and any past mental health treatment
Ask about mental health conditions that run in your family
Go over the medications and supplements you take now
Ask about your sleep, relationships, work or school, and daily routine
Use brief screening questionnaires and, if needed, order lab tests
Afterward, your psychiatrist will talk through a working diagnosis and build a treatment plan with you. Follow-up visits are usually shorter, around 15 to 30 minutes, and focus on tracking progress and adjusting treatment as needed.
When to See a Psychiatrist
It can be hard to know when to reach out for help. You should consider seeking professional help when symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with work, school, relationships, or daily life. You do not need to wait a specific amount of time to ask for help, especially if symptoms are severe or worsening.
If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially if you feel at immediate risk of acting on them, seek help immediately. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is immediate danger.
How Blossom Health Can Help
Blossom Health is a telehealth platform that connects you with board-certified psychiatric providers for virtual, in-network care. If your mental health is holding you back, the goal is simple: match you with a provider who fits your needs, your schedule, and your insurance. Getting started takes three steps:
Share the basics: Enter the state you live in and your insurance plan so we can confirm your options.
Choose a time: Pick an appointment that works for you, and we will match you with a provider on our team, often within days.
Confirm your visit: Add a few more details about yourself and your insurance, and you are set for your first session.
The first appointment is usually an hour-long video visit where your provider reviews your background, symptoms, and goals, makes a diagnosis, and builds a treatment plan that may include medication. When you are ready, you can get started with Blossom Health and be seen soon.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
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