Today, mental health is becoming more and more known; people are beginning to realize the importance of taking care of the mind since it can also affect one’s physical health. Before, there are some who would look at mental disorders as “made-up illnesses,” but now that more are experiencing depression, anxiety, and too much stress, it is now apparent that mental health should also be as important as physical health.
Now, if someone is going to look for a psychiatrist for a consultation, there are certain psychiatrists that have fields that they specialize in, which means that they are not supposed to cater to every person. These specialties divide psychiatrists like Dr. Avery Grauer MD, into different types, and people should know the type of psychiatrist that they need to consult on so that they will be provided with the best advice or prescriptions. Here are the different types of psychiatrists and their specialties.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
This sentence should read: As the type’s name suggests, child and adolescent psychiatrists specialize in treating and taking care of mental health issues in younger people; particularly those that are 18 years old or younger. This type of psychiatrist is considered to be one of the most important types because it can treat mental disorders at a young age before they can get worse once they get older. In addition, it is also important because they will know to prescribe specific medications that are made for children and would not recommend medicines that are for adults. If you have a child that is suffering from a mental disorder, you would need them to have psychiatric care so that their situation doesn’t get worse.
Forensic Psychiatrist
Forensic psychiatrists are the ones that specialize in providing evidence related to mental health in the criminal or court system. For example, a forensic psychiatrist is responsible for determining whether a criminal has a normal state of mind or is “criminally insane,” and the decision also determines if the criminal should be put into jail or a mental institution. In addition, forensic psychiatrists are usually called upon in court to evaluate a witness’ testimony to know if he or she is lying or telling the truth, as well as providing consultations to witnesses or surviving victims that are traumatized by the crime committed. Most forensic psychiatrists can also belong to other types of a psychiatrist fields if their forensic tasks are not frequently performed.
General Psychiatrist
Arguably the most common type of psychiatrist, general psychiatrists don’t really have a particular specialty, although they are mainly focused on treating common mental disorders like depression and anxiety. However, because they don’t have a branch of psychiatry that they specialize in, they belong in the group “jack of all trades, but master of none,” which suggests that people with severe mental disorders should consult a specialty psychiatrist since general psychiatrists would only give general or common prescriptions or medications. There are some psychiatrists that practice or train for four years in general psychiatry before getting additional specialized training. If you want to learn more about counseling, or whether a general psychiatrist is suitable for you, click here to learn about what you should look for in a psychiatrist near you.
Geriatric Psychiatrist
Geriatric psychiatrists have an opposite specialty of child psychiatrists, as they are generally focused on bringing psychiatric care to elderly people, particularly those that are 65 years old and above. Many geriatric psychiatrists typically deal with progressive disorders like Alzheimer’s diseases and others that would occur due to old age. Furthermore, these progressive disorders would sometimes be accompanied by other mental disorders, such as anxiety or depression, which means that geriatric psychiatrists are also adept in general psychiatry.
Addiction Psychiatrist
Addiction psychiatrists are there for people that are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, as the psychiatrists can provide proper treatment to help them with withdrawal issues and any other complications. Like geriatric psychiatrists, addiction psychiatrists would typically also deal with other mental disorders for their patients, hence the reason why they are also skilled in general psychiatry. Moreover, addiction psychiatrists also dig deeper into the profile of their patients to know the underlying causes of their addiction and prescribe the necessary medications to cure their disorders.
Neuropsychiatrist
Neuropsychiatrists specialize in treating patients with mental disorders that are caused by brain injuries or complications of the nervous system. People that are suffering from cerebral palsy or other nervous system disorders would usually go to a neuropsychiatrist for consultation since they are most adept in taking care of those that have different reasons for having mental disorders. As such, neuropsychiatrists would often be categorized in a different group from the other types of psychiatrists (which are still considered a part of one umbrella) since they deal with problems that are outside of general psychiatry.
Those are the most common types of psychiatrists that you will find around the world, although there are minor branches in psychiatry that could be considered as a different type. If you are planning on getting consultations, be sure that you seek a psychiatrist whose specialty suits the needs of your mental health.