Word

psychiatry

noun C1

/saɪˈkaɪ.əˌtɹi/

Meanings

noun

the medical specialty that diagnoses and treats mental health conditions

noun

the academic field and practice concerned with understanding and treating mental disorders

Definition

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

Psychiatry is a medical specialty concerned with mental health, including how people think, feel, and behave. Psychiatrists assess symptoms, make diagnoses, and offer treatments such as psychotherapy and medication. The field also considers biological, psychological, and social factors that affect wellbeing.

Examples

I became interested in psychiatry after volunteering on a hospital ward that supported people in crisis.
You can see how psychiatry has changed over the decades by comparing older case histories with modern approaches.
He chose psychiatry because he wanted a specialty that combines careful diagnosis with long-term patient relationships.
She found that psychiatry required as much listening and patience as it did scientific knowledge.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse psychiatry (a medical specialty) with psychology (a non-medical discipline) and use them interchangeably.