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• Subspecialties in Psychiatry

Subspecialties in Psychiatry

Subspecialty and Research Training

A number of subspecialties are offered within the field of psychiatry. Most require a one-year fellowship, which follows the standard four years of general psychiatry residency. When completed, a certificate of added qualification is awarded.

The exception is Child and Adolescent Psychiatry which is considered a "subspecialty." This requires two years of additional study, but residents may enter child training after their third postgraduate year and complete their training in five years. For 3 other areas, (geriatrics; addictions; and forensics), a certificate of additional qualifications is awarded following completion of additional training.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training emphasizes developmental considerations. Biological, sociocultural, psychodynamic, behavioral, and familial aspects of childhood and adolescence and their problems are covered in both clinical and didactic experiences. Consultation with ambulatory and hospital pediatric services is an essential part of child and adolescent training. In addition, residents consult with schools, courts and social welfare agencies.

Geriatric Psychiatry

Geriatric Psychiatry emphasizes the biological and psychological aspects of normal aging, the psychiatric impact of acute and chronic physical illness, and the biological and psychosocial aspects of the pathology of primary psychiatric disturbances of older age.

Addiction Psychiatry

Addiction Psychiatry subspecialty training is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of addictive disorders as well as the treatment of persons with complicated, comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic Psychiatry provides the psychiatrist with special skills necessary to deal with the legal system, including both civil and criminal aspects. The training includes work in evaluation competency, the insanity defense, and providing court testimony. Additionally, trainees have clinical experiences with patients in jails and prisons.

Psychosomatic Medicine
Over ten million Americans suffer from co-morbid chronic medical and psychiatric illnesses, making the need to properly evaluate, diagnose and treat such individuals a major public health mandate and priority. Psychiatric morbidity has serious consequences in the setting of medical illness causing increased functional disability, increased economic burden, and increased medical and psychiatric morbidity. We know that treatment of psychiatric illness in patients with chronic medical illness is effective and has significant positive impact on both medical and psychiatric outcomes. One and two-year fellowships are available for graduates of approved psychiatric residency programs. The fellowship seeks psychiatrists interested in a career in Psychosomatic Medicine (consultation-liaison psychiatry). They are full-time programs with clinical, research and teaching experiences.
 

Research

A wide variety of research is being conducted in psychiatry and many residency programs offer funded fellowships for additional training opportunities in research after graduation. The APA Division of Research publishes Directory of Research Fellowship Opportunities in Psychiatry which lists research fellowships at over 65 institutions. In addition, each program listed in this Directory identifies funded research opportunities at their site.

Combined Programs
Triple Board Residency (Psychiatry/Pediatrics/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) - A five-year combined residency which integrates psychiatry, pediatrics and child and adolescent psychiatry. Ten institutions currently offer this combined program.
Psychiatry/Family Practice - five-year combined residency. Ten institutions currently offer this combined program.
Psychiatry/Internal Medicine - five-year combined residency. Seventeen institutions currently offer this combined program.
Psychiatry/Neurology - five-to-six year combined residency. Ten institutions currently offer this combined program.