Job description: Psychiatrist

Psychiatry, as a medical discipline dedicated to the understanding and treatment of mental disorders, has come a long way since its origins. Once marked by rudimentary and often inhumane practices, it now offers a framework for scientific and humanistic care. The emergence of modern psychiatry in the 19th century, under the impetus of figures such as Philippe Pinel, marked a decisive shift towards a more empathetic and methodical approach.

Today, psychiatry continues to develop, embracing advances in neuroscience, pharmacology and psychotherapy, while striving to address the ethical and social challenges posed by the management of mental illness. 

In this article, we will define the rôle of the psychiatristas a physician, go through the necessary studies, the required skills, as well as average salaries. 

What is a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a specialist in the field of mental health. His role is to diagnose, treat and prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Unlike psychologists or psychotherapists, psychiatrists are licensed physicians, enabling them to prescribe medication, perform medical interventions and coordinate multidisciplinary care.

Disorders managed by psychiatrists include illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and addictions. The psychiatrist's work also extends to areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, legal psychiatry, liaison psychiatry (in conjunction with other medical specialties) and geriatric psychiatry.

Training and qualifications required 

In France, the academic path required in order to become a psychiatrist is long and rigorous. This difficulty is linked to the need to acquire advanced medical skills. This specialization includes internships, research and training. It consists of a first year of study in the Parcours Accès Santé Spéifique (PASS) or Licence avec Accès Santé (L.AS), two years of general medical studies to obtain the Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Médicales (DFGSM), followed by a further three years to obtain the Diplocirc;me de Formation Approfondie en Sciences Médicales (DFASM). Finally, the young graduate will have to take the end-of-externship tests (EDN and ECNOS) and specialize in psychiatry. He then became an intern for four years, before officially becoming a psychiatrist. To find out more about études de psychiatrie, find our fiche études psychiatre.

After training in psychiatry, some practitioners choose to specialize in specific psychiatric fields, such as pediatric psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, addictology or liaison psychiatry. These complementary training courses will enable them to enhance their know-how, in order to obtain better psychiatrist job offers.

Skills and qualifications required of a psychiatrist

The mastership of a psychiatrist requires a varied set of skills that go beyond medical knowledge. Here are the main ones:

Technical skills

• Diagnosis of mental disorders : maîtrise des critères diagnostiques des différents mentaux, tels que décrits dans manuels de rérence comme le DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) ou la CIM-11 (Classification Internationale des Maladies).
• &Clinical assessment: conducting a structured or semi-structured clinical interview to assess the patient's mental state. This includes taking into account the patient’s personal, family, medical and social history.

• Prescription of psychotropic drugs: in-depth knowledge of the drugs used to treat mental disorders (antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, etc.), including their indications, males and females.), including their indications, mechanisms of action, dosages, drug interactions and side effects.
• Treatment monitoring and adjustment: monitor the effects of psychotropic treatments on patients and adjust prescriptions according to patient efficacy and tolerability, while minimizing the risk of side effects or dependence.

• Neurology and neuroimaging: knowledge of the basics of neurology and the ability to interpret the results of neurobiological tests or neuroimaging (such as brain MRI) to diagnose neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Physiopathology of mental disorders: understanding the biological mechanisms underlying mental disorders, including neurochemical imbalances and neuroanatomical dysfunction.

• Crisis intervention: management of emergency situations, such as suicide attempts, acute psychotic crises and severe depression. This includes the implementation of safety protocols for patients and their families.
• Hospitalisation sous contrainte: knowledge of legal and medical procedures for hospitalizing a patient without consent in the event of danger to himself or others.

• Long-term follow-up: ability to monitor patients' progress over the long term, adapting treatment according to changes in symptomatology or life situation.

• Patient rights : maîtrise des questions éthiques et légales liées &eagrave; la psychiatrie, notamment en ce qui concerne la confidentialitéé le consentement éclairé et la gestion des situations où le patient peut êêtre un danger pour luiême ou pour autrui.

Human qualities

• Empathy: a good psychiatrist must be able to put himself in his patients' shoes, feel what they're going through and offer them appropriate emotional support. This quality is essential for establishing a positive therapeutic relationship, where the patient feels understood and supported.

• Patience: the treatment of mental disorders can be a long and complex process, often requiring months or even years of follow-up. Psychiatrists must be patient, both in listening to their patients and in evaluating their progress.

• Écoute: an active and attentive coute is fundamental in psychiatry. Patients often need to feel heard without being judged. Psychiatrists must be able to listen to their patients' concerns, fears and experiences attentively, taking care not to interrupt or minimize their feelings.

• Résilience: working with people suffering from mental disorders can être éproving. Psychiatrists must be able to manage their emotions, not let themselves be overwhelmed by stress or exhaustion, and maintain a certain professional distance.

• Sense of responsibility: responsibility towards patients is immense. Psychiatrists must be aware of the impact of their actions and decisions on patients' lives, and must always act in their best interests. This also implies constant vigilance regarding one's own competence, with a commitment to ongoing training.

• Intacute;grité and éthique : intégrité is essential to maintain patient confidence and to respect the framework of the profession. A psychiatrist must demonstrate honesty, respect for patients' rights and fidelity to the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy.

Rémunération of the psychiatrist

The salary of the psychiatrist, while generally higher due to the difficulty of the profession, varies according to experience, place of practice and specialization. In France, a psychiatrist working in a public hospital can expect a gross monthly salary of around 3,000 to 4,500 euros. With experience, this amount will increase organically. What's more, an ageing population, an increase in modern stress-related disorders and better recognition of mental disorders are contributing to a growing demand for psychiatric care and, consequently, to an improvement in working conditions for these specialists.

Want to learn more about this topic? Find our psychiatrist salary sheet!

Défis and ethical aspects

The métier of psychiatrist presents numerous défis, à both technical and éthical. Among the most important are:

• Complex diagnoses: mental disorders are often complex, with overlapping symptoms and frequent comorbidities. Diagnosis therefore requires a great deal of rigor and in-depth reflection, which can sometimes go beyond what is known.
• Stigma : In many societies, mental disorders remain poorly viewed and poorly accepted, which can make it difficult for patients to access care. Psychiatrists play a crucial role in combating this stigma, by promoting a better understanding of mental illness.
• Confidentiality : The relationship between psychiatrist and patient is based on trust and respect for confidentiality. However, in certain cases (such as suicidal risks or dangerous behavior), the psychiatrist must assess the necessity of sharing certain information to protect the patient or others, while respecting the legal framework.
• Treatment management: prescribing psychotropic drugs requires constant vigilance because of the risk of side effects, dependence or drug interactions. The psychiatrist must always weigh up the benefits and risks of treatment.

As you will have gathered, the carrière of psychiatrist is both demanding and rewarding. It requires long and rigorous training, as well as solid medical, relational and ethical skills. These specialists play a decisive role in individual and social well-being, providing essential care to those who are suffering. With constant advances in the understanding of mental illness and new therapeutic approaches, psychiatry is a field in perpetual evolution. It offers numerous opportunities for specialization and professional development. So, all in all, it's an exciting business!

Loved this article? Read on with our neurologist fact sheet!