Psychiatry

Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the specialized medical field focused on studying and treating mental disorders, which encompass various affective, behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual abnormalities.

Coined by German physician Johann Christian Reil in 1808, the term "psychiatry" literally means the "medical treatment of the mind" (psych-: mind; from Ancient Greek psykhē: soul; -iatry: medical treatment; from Gk. iātrikos: medical, iāsthai: to heal). A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in psychiatry.

Psychiatric assessment typically begins with a mental status examination and gathering a case history. This process may involve psychological tests, physical examinations, and occasionally neuroimaging or other neurophysiological techniques.

Mental disorders are diagnosed based on criteria outlined in diagnostic manuals such as the widely utilized Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), managed by the World Health Organization.

The fifth edition of the DSM (DSM-5) was scheduled to be released in 2013, and its development was anticipated to be of significant interest across various medical fields.

Psychiatric treatment employs various modalities, including psychoactive medication, psychotherapy, and diverse techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation. Treatment may be administered on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on the severity of functional impairment or other aspects of the disorder.

Research and treatment within psychiatry are conducted on an interdisciplinary basis, incorporating a range of sub-specialties and theoretical approaches. Psychotherapy and medications are both effective for most psychiatric disorders, with a combination of the two often yielding the best results, although their effects may manifest on different timelines.

In Malaysia, the Malaysian Psychiatric Association is the organization established to promote advancements in psychiatric services in the country, enhance skills among members in clinical and social psychiatry, and foster research in the field.