A few questions about psychiatry…?
I am really interested in the field of psychiatry, and the way the brain works in general. I say PSYCHIATRY instead of just PSYCHOLOGY because I am interested in the chemical reasoning behind certain mental states/disorders and how they work. I am only a junior in high school, but I am looking at internships for the summer in subjects I am interested in and this is one of them
1. How long does it generally take to become a psychiatrist? (Including after residency and internships)
2. How does one earn enough money to live comfortably within the time it takes to become a psychiatrist?
3. What are the different kind of jobs a psychiatrist can get (list as many as possible, not just private practice)
4. How long does it generally take to pay off student loans?
5. How stressful is the process of becoming a psychiatrist? How stressful is it BEING a psychiatrist?
6. What do psychiatrists mainly study in medical school?
7. Where can I find internships in this field?
Thanks, any serious comments would be greatly appreciated
Posted in psychiatry jobs
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June 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Psychologists are not doctors from medical viewpoint and can’t prescribe you pills, perform a brain surgery or give you an electroshock. If they think you should take pills, they should send you to a psychiatrist. Psychiatrist is a doctor from medical viewpoint and can give you pills, electroshock or brain surgery which are the only methods psychiatry uses. Brain surgeries like prefrontal lobotomy found its place in horror movies where it belongs and is disappearing from psychiatry. Electroshocks are still being given to the people despite no results and serious damage caused to the patients. Modern psychiatry focuses on drugs. Psychiatrists prescribed LSD and ecstasy as medicine in the past and their modern drugs are said to be even more dangerous. Some psychiatrists however may be using alternative methods or psychology but that is not psychiatry. Psychiatry has been using 1) brain surgeries 2) shocks (not only electroshocks but also insulin shocks) 3) drugs. Psychology was always more about talking to you, listening to you and explaining things for you and giving you advices what you should do. However, psychology is indeed a mixture of different theories written by different authors - there is really no ONE psychology. Psychologists and Psychiatrists didn’t like each other in the beginning due to completely different approach which is more than obvious but as time passed they learnt to get along somehow.
I wouldn’t play with psychiatry at all - see the vids below.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
IF you want real life answers to those questions why don’t you contact the nearest teaching hospital to you or go on the web and find one. Ask those questions of them and you’ll get real life answers from people who have experienced those situations. Cornell Medical University is one of them. Columbia University is another. They would be able to help you but there are others.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
It is very stressful to be a psychiatrist because psychiatry has never worked.
Psychiatrists admit:
- they have no idea how human mind works
- they have no idea what is causing mental illnesses
- they have no cures
It is fine if you don’t believe me but you can hear it from psychiatrists (even a professor of psychiatry) and psychologists themselves in this document
http://www.cchr.org/#/videos/making-a-killing-introduction
June 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
To become a psychiatrist, you will need to:
Focus on science and mathematics in high school. Volunteering in medicine while in high school can help significantly.
Take up an undergraduate degree that focuses on around math, psychology and science. Take the MCATs and apply to medical school.
The first two years in medical school will be spent in laboratories and classrooms. After which, you would be taking the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). The last two years of medical school will be spent working with actual patients. Complete part two of the USMLE in your fourth year.
Begin a residency program. Specialize in patient care in your first year and complete the final step in the USMLE. Focus on psychiatric care in the next three to five years of your residency. Afterwards, you can get your board certification and begin training for your chosen specialty
To read more on how to become a psychiatrist, check out our page on Mahalo on how to become a psychiatrist:
http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Become_a_Psychiatrist