Pediatric Psychiatrist Job Description
Pediatric psychiatrists help children with mental and emotional difficulties, according to Education-Portal.com. Unlike a child psychologist, pediatric psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication to help a patient's condition. These professionals must meet several skills and training requirements to succeed in this field.
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Duties
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Pediatric psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders in children using medication, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and hospitalization when necessary, according to DiplomaGuide.com. Pediatric issues might include autism, attention-deficit disorder and substance abuse.
Psychotherapy involves regular discussions with patients about their problems, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Through psychotherapy, pediatric psychiatrists help children find solutions through changes in their behavioral patterns, group/family therapy sessions or the exploration of their past experiences. They also conduct continuing assessments and administer medications to correct chemical imbalances that cause emotional problems.
Pediatric psychiatrists see children in various settings such as hospitals, schools and public or private clinics. They can work alongside other medical professionals such as neurologists, family doctors and general psychiatrists.
Skills
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Pediatric psychiatrists must work well with children and their families and have strong verbal communication skills. They also must be highly skilled in the biological sciences and math. These professionals additionally must know how to be empathetic while maintaining professional distance from patients. In addition, pediatric psychiatrists must have patience, strong problem-solving skills, stability and analytical skills.
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Education
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Pediatric psychiatrists, who are specialized medical doctors, must attend a medical school after completing their undergraduate work. Their bachelor's degree should ideally be in one of the biological sciences or in psychology. To get into medical school, students must pass the Medical College Admissions Test. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education is the national accrediting body for medical education programs. Students then must complete four years of a general psychiatry residency.
Certification
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Psychiatrists must hold medical licenses from the state where they practice by passing a multi-step exam. Aspiring psychiatrists also can take a voluntary exam overseen by the American Board of Psychiatry. Those who pass the exam are "board certified" psychiatrists. To become a pediatric psychiatrist requires extra training, such as a fellowship in child psychiatry, according to DiplomaGuide.com. Individuals then take another voluntary certification exam in child psychiatry to become a "board certified" child psychiatrist. Some employers also might require job candidates to have Drug Enforcement Administration licenses that give them the ability to prescribe controlled substances.
Outlook
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The demand for pediatric psychiatrists remains strong as the number of mental illnesses being diagnosed in children continues to rise, according to Education-Portal.com. Opportunities are especially strong in smaller towns and rural communities, particularly for consultations with schools. Employment of physicians, which include pediatric psychiatrists, is projected to increase 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pediatric psychiatrists in 2010 earned between $143,475 and $205,072, according to Payscale.com.
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References
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