| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Clinical and Medical |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Head of Department (Clinical) |
| Direct reports | Clinical Psychologist |
| Experience | 2 to 6 years after postgraduation in hospital psychiatry |
Psychiatrist job description template
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Job title: Psychiatrist
Department: Clinical and Medical
Reports to: Head of Department (Clinical)
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Psychiatrist diagnoses and treats mental illness: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, behaviour problems in dementia and childhood conditions such as ADHD. In hospitals they run OPD clinics, manage the psychiatry ward or de-addiction unit, and see patients in other departments after suicide attempts, delirium or alcohol withdrawal. A good psychiatrist assesses risk carefully, uses medicines and therapy wisely, and involves the family while respecting the patient's dignity and confidentiality.
Key responsibilities
- Assess OPD patients through a detailed history, mental state examination and information from the family, and reach a diagnosis.
- Evaluate suicide and violence risk at every assessment, and document the risk level and safety plan clearly.
- Prescribe and adjust psychiatric medicines, watching side effects, drug levels where needed and adherence.
- Provide or arrange psychotherapy such as supportive therapy or CBT together with the clinical psychologist.
- Manage psychiatry ward patients, including admission decisions, patient rights and any restraint or seclusion under the hospital policy.
- Run de-addiction treatment for alcohol, opioid and other substance use, from detoxification to relapse prevention.
- See patients in other departments after self-harm, delirium, alcohol withdrawal or unexplained physical symptoms.
- Give ECT where indicated, with informed consent and anaesthesia support, following the hospital protocol.
- Counsel families on the illness, treatment and early signs of relapse, while protecting the patient's confidentiality.
- Prepare certificates and reports for courts, insurers and employers only after proper assessment, through the hospital's medico-legal procedure.
Requirements
- MD, DNB or DPM in Psychiatry
- Valid registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council
- Training in child psychiatry, addiction medicine or psychotherapy is an advantage
- 2 to 6 years after postgraduation in hospital psychiatry
KRAs and KPIs for a Psychiatrist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment | Documented suicide risk assessment for 100 percent of new patients and self-harm referrals |
| Liaison response | Psychiatric opinion for self-harm patients in emergency within 4 hours |
| Follow-up adherence | At least 70 percent of patients started on treatment return for the first review within 4 weeks |
| Readmissions | Psychiatry readmissions within 30 days below 10 percent of discharges |
| Restraint review | Every restraint or seclusion episode reviewed and documented within the same shift |
| De-addiction follow-up | At least 50 percent of patients completing detoxification attend follow-up at 3 months |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Structured rating scales such as HAM-D and PANSS, ECT machine, Electronic medical records, Breathalyser, Urine drug screening kits.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Department (Clinical), Medical Director
Interview questions for a Psychiatrist
- A 19-year-old is brought in after an overdose and says she is fine now. How do you assess her risk?
- How do you manage alcohol withdrawal in a surgical ward patient who is becoming confused?
- A family wants you to admit their son against his will. How do you proceed?
- When would you recommend ECT, and how do you explain it to a frightened family?
- How do you keep a patient on long-term medicine when he feels he no longer needs it?
- An employer asks for details of an employee's diagnosis. What do you share?
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What does a psychiatrist do?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction and behaviour problems in dementia. They assess risk, prescribe medicines, provide or arrange therapy, admit patients when needed and work with families on recovery and relapse prevention.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a doctor with an MD, DNB or DPM in psychiatry who can diagnose mental illness, prescribe medicines and admit patients. A clinical psychologist holds a postgraduate qualification in clinical psychology and provides assessment and talk therapy such as CBT, but does not prescribe. Many patients benefit from seeing both.
When should someone see a psychiatrist?
Someone should see a psychiatrist when low mood, anxiety, sleep problems, unusual beliefs, anger or substance use affect work, studies or relationships for more than a few weeks, and immediately if there are thoughts of self-harm. Early treatment usually works better and shortens the illness.