Psychiatry is the medical specialty that assesses, diagnoses and treats mental, emotional and behavioural disorders, in connection with physical health.
You do not need a diagnosis to book a psychiatric consultation. Many people come with a specific complaint, such as sleeping badly, being unable to concentrate or feeling constantly tense, and it is the assessment that helps make sense of what lies behind it.
What psychiatry is
Psychiatry is a medical specialty. The psychiatrist assesses symptoms in the context of life history, physical health and medication, distinguishes mental disorders from medical conditions that can mimic them and proposes a treatment plan.
Mood
Anxiety
Sleep
Attention
Thinking
Cognition
The main areas of psychiatry. The same complaint can have different causes, and the assessment tells them apart.
Other areas: eating disorders, alcohol and other substance use, personality disorders and mental health in elite athletes.
When to see a psychiatrist
It is worth asking for an assessment when distress lasts for weeks, when it affects work, studies or relationships, when sleep, appetite or energy change markedly, when thoughts of death appear, when alcohol or other substances are used to relieve the distress or when a current treatment is not working.
The consultation
The first consultation is a structured conversation about the symptoms, how they have evolved, physical health, medication and life context. It may include requesting blood tests or other investigations. At the end, what has been understood and the next steps are discussed.
Treatments
The plan is individual and may combine psychoeducation, measures on sleep and lifestyle, medication, psychotherapy and liaison with other doctors. Follow-up allows the response to be assessed and the plan to be adjusted over time.
No. Most consultations are about anxiety, depression, insomnia, burnout or concentration difficulties, which are common and treatable.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a neurologist?
A neurologist treats diseases of the nervous system, such as epilepsy, stroke or Parkinson’s disease. A psychiatrist treats disorders of mood, anxiety, thinking and behaviour. In some situations, such as dementia, the two specialties work together.
Can I see a psychiatrist without knowing what I have?
Yes. Just describe what you feel and how it affects your daily life. The diagnosis, when there is one, comes from the assessment.
References
World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), chapter 6: Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders. 2022.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed., text revision (DSM-5-TR). 2022.
World Health Organization. World mental health report: transforming mental health for all. 2022.
This page is for information only and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Clinical review: Pedro Zuzarte, psychiatrist · Published and reviewed: .