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Looking after ourselves

Former-Member
Not applicable

What's a Consultant Psychiatrist?

Hi all. Admins/moderators, feel free to move this to an appropriate thread if this isn't the right one just let me know please. I wasn't sure what topic it would go under, apologies.

 

My apologies for this silly question. But my Psychiatrist who I see on Skype (I'm not sure if he sees patients in person but we're both in different states) is great. He's a Consultant Psychiatrist, but I'm not sure what this means.

 

Can someone please explain it to me? I was thinking that it means they perhaps watch/supervise other Psychiatrists or teach them? Or perhaps just have their own private practice, or used to?

 

All I know about Psychiatrists is that they can prescribe medication, admit people, etc. And my Psychiatrist gives me therapy (including coping strategies, etc) since he knows he's the only support I have (long story), although I changed GPs.

 

Thanks, sorry again for the silly question. It's no big deal I'm just curious as to what it means and what the job title consists of.

2 REPLIES 2

Re: What's a Consultant Psychiatrist?

@Former-Member 

The term "consultant" is another word for a specialist.

 

Specialists have the same basic training as a GP but then do additional training in a specific field, in the case of your pdoc - psychiatry.

 

Becoming a specialist can take a good 6+ years of study and while a doctor is a specialist in training they are referred to as a "registrar". Registrars work in training hospitals. As they are qualified doctors they can also prescribe medication but work under supervision in their chosen speciality until they are fully qualified.

 

This info applies to all specialists - orthopaedic surgeons, gynaecologists, neurologists, anaesthestics etc.

 

Hope this helps.

Re: What's a Consultant Psychiatrist?

Thanks @Former-Member . No big deal, I was just curious for some reason, not sure why 

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