Become a psychiatrist

As a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, you will treat people with a wide range of mental illnesses. After studying medicine, you have to complete a five-year training programme to become a specialist. The profession is demanding, but also very fulfilling because you can have a positive impact on your patients' lives. We have summarised the most important information about working as a psychiatrist for you here.

What is a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. He diagnoses and treats mental illnesses and uses both medication and psychotherapy to stabilise his patients and help them cope with their illness.

The profession of psychiatrist requires a high degree of empathy and extensive knowledge of the various mental disorders. In some cases, psychiatrists work closely with other medical specialists, psychologists and social services in order to provide the patient with the best possible help.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Psychiatrists are often confused with psychologists. However, the two professions differ significantly. A psychiatrist is a doctor who first studied medicine and then completed specialist training. They can both make a diagnosis and prescribe medication.

The psychologist, on the other hand, has studied psychology. As they are not doctors, they are not authorised to prescribe medication. Although both professions focus on the psyche, their areas of responsibility are nevertheless very different. The two experts often work closely together. For example, a psychologist often takes over outpatient psychotherapy to stabilise and prevent relapses when a patient is discharged from a psychiatric clinic.

How to become a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy

To become a psychiatrist, you have to go through several stages of training. Firstly, you complete a six-year degree in medicine at a university. This is followed by five years of specialist training in psychiatry and psychotherapy. The diverse content of this training prepares you for the tasks and methods of the profession, including the diagnosis, treatment and care of people with mental illnesses. After completing your specialist training, you can then work as a specialist in psychiatric clinics or in your own practice.

6 years of medical studies

If you have succeeded in gaining a place to study medicine, you have taken the first step on the path to becoming a psychiatrist. The degree programme lasts six years and provides you with the basic medical knowledge you will need to work as a doctor. Once you have passed the state examination, there are numerous jobs open to you as an assistant doctor in clinics.

5 years of specialist training

If you decide to train as a psychiatry specialist, you will then undergo 5 years of further training. During this time, you will work as a junior doctor in neurology and psychiatry, among other things, as future specialists in psychiatry have to pass through various departments as part of their further training. You will learn everything you need to know to work independently as a psychiatrist later on, including the legal framework for the profession of psychiatrist in Germany.

Possible further training after specialist training

After completing your specialist training, you will be a psychiatrist and can already work in this profession in a clinic or in your own practice. Another option is to undergo additional training and specialise in a specific area within the psychiatric field.

For example, you can specialise in forensic psychiatry and work with patients who have committed criminal offences due to personality disorders or other mental illnesses. The duration of further training in forensic psychiatry is two years.

Contents of the specialist training programme for psychiatry and psychotherapy

Training to become a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy takes a total of 60 months. It is compulsory to complete the following specialisms:

• 24 months in the inpatient care of patients
• 12 months in neurology
• You can spend up to 12 months of your training in internal medicine, psychosomatics, child and adolescent psychiatry or forensics.

As a trainee psychiatrist, you will receive comprehensive training in diagnostics, treatment and preventative measures. Your practical work will take place under the supervision of experienced psychiatrists, who will be on hand to provide you with the necessary information if required.

Common mental illnesses that you have to deal with as a psychiatrist

As a doctor specialising in psychiatry, you will encounter patients with a wide variety of disorders and complaints. Your task is to recognise and diagnose the relevant clinical pictures and then provide the patient with the most suitable therapy to cure or manage the illness.

We would now like to introduce you to some of the most frequently encountered disorders in the everyday work of a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.

Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses that psychiatrists treat. It is estimated that one in three people will suffer from depression at least once in their lives. As a psychiatrist, you diagnose depression and work with the patient to find the right treatment for them.

Depression can be treated with both medication and psychotherapy. In many cases, a mixture of both therapy methods is recommended.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are also among the most common mental illnesses. They include various forms of anxiety, such as generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks and phobias.

As a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, you diagnose these disorders and develop individual treatment plans. The measures range from cognitive behavioural therapy to medication. The causes of an anxiety disorder are varied, and comprehensive psychotherapy is often required so that patients can lead a normal life again.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterised by psychosis and strong deviations from reality. Schizophrenic disorders are usually treated with medication.

It is important to have a good Contact us to the patient even outside of episodes of illness, as they are usually much more cooperative, which makes it possible to adjust to long-term medication. Incidentally, lay people often equate schizophrenia with a split personality. However, this is not the case for most schizophrenics.

Bipolar disorders

Bipolar disorder is characterised by a combination of depression and manic disorder. In most cases, each phase lasts several weeks or months, but there are also so-called "rapid cyclers", where the change between the phases is much faster.

Bipolar disorder is a major challenge for the people affected and their psychiatrists. In the manic phase, the patient dares to do almost anything and often harms themselves both financially and physically as a result, but has little insight into their illness and therefore cannot usually be persuaded to cooperate by psychiatrists or psychotherapists. This is only the case again in the depressive phase.

Eating disorders

Pathologically unhealthy eating behaviour, such as anorexia or bulimia, requires intensive care from specialists in psychiatry and psychotherapy. The clinical pictures are characterised by a disturbed relationship to one's own body and to food.

The aim of treatment is to stabilise the patient's psyche and help them to find their way back to healthy eating habits.

Addictive disorders

Psychiatrists often deal with addicts. In addition to the patients who come to the psychiatrist specifically for treatment of their addiction, many other people who actually come for other disorders are also affected by addiction. In addition, other disorders can often lie behind an addiction. This phenomenon is related to the fact that patients "treat" themselves to a certain extent with the addictive substance: Anxiety disorders can initially be better tolerated with alcohol or other drugs, and this also applies to many other disorders. In the long term, however, these substances do not lead to fewer problems, but to more.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs after traumatic experiences, such as accidents or violence. Those affected often suffer from flashbacks, nightmares and increased irritability. Treatment usually involves psychotherapy, often in combination with medication to stabilise the patient.

Obsessive-compulsive disorders

When patients suffer from obsessive thoughts and actions, behavioural therapy is often the treatment of choice. Psychiatrists work closely with psychologists and psychotherapists to maximise the chances of successful therapy.

For those affected, compulsions are often more than just a nuisance, as they can prevent them from participating in everyday life in a relaxed manner and determine their entire daily routine.

Borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder is characterised by unstable emotions and relationships. Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) has proven itself as a treatment. In some cases, medication is also appropriate to support the therapy, especially in acute stress situations.

Activities of a psychiatrist in the clinic

Large hospitals often employ psychiatrists in their own psychiatric department. These clinics are contact points for patients from the respective region for whom care in specialist practices is currently not sufficient and who require inpatient treatment.

The job description of psychiatric doctors in these clinics therefore often includes crisis interventions and night shifts. You will often work closely with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist in private practice who will continue to care for your patient after they have been discharged.

Tasks of psychiatrists in private practice

A psychiatrist in private practice diagnoses and treats mental health problems in their own practice. The tasks of this specialist include carrying out therapies and prescribing medication. They help patients with sleep, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and other disorders as well as other mental health problems.

Future prospects for psychiatry

The future prospects for the profession of psychiatrist are very promising. Currently, patients often wait a long time for a place in therapy, and society needs competent doctors in this speciality to take care of their patients' suffering.

You therefore have good prospects for the future if you decide to train as a psychiatrist after completing your medical degree.

What is the salary of a psychiatrist?

While you can expect a gross salary of just over 5,000 euros as a junior doctor at a clinic in your first year, as a psychiatrist you can expect a gross salary of around 6,500 euros at the start. If you advance in the clinic and become a senior physician or even chief physician, your salary will naturally increase accordingly. As a senior consultant, it is usually over 10,000 euros gross per month.

Under certain circumstances, significantly higher incomes are possible as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist with their own practice. Although the net income of a psychiatry practice is on average slightly lower than that of practices in other specialities, a psychiatry practice also requires less expensive medical equipment than many other specialist practices.