Mental disorders require medical as well as psychological understanding. Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Psychiatrists assess conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. They integrate biological, psychological, and social perspectives and can prescribe medication, provide psychotherapy, and authorize more intensive treatments when needed. Diagnosis relies primarily on clinical interview and standardized criteria.

Collaboration with psychologists, social workers, and primary-care clinicians is common. Reducing stigma and improving access remain ongoing challenges. Advances in neuroscience and psychopharmacology continue to refine treatment options while the therapeutic relationship stays central to care.

• Medical specialty focused on mental disorders
• Integrates medication, psychotherapy, and social interventions
• Diagnoses through clinical interview and criteria
• Works within broader mental-health teams