Ph.D. in Psychology or subfield plus M.D., including residency training in a hospital environment just like a regular doctor.
Psychiatrists diagnose and treat people who have mental illnesses.
An unidentified person once said, "A psychiatrist has to be a person who commits himself to making a person better. Nothing should be too menial for a psychiatrist to do." These words speak to the importance of a psychiatrist's work.
Psychiatrists help patients deal with mental illnesses such as substance abuse, anxiety disorders, or depression. Some mental illnesses have a biological cause, such as a lack of the proper chemicals in the brain. Other mental illnesses are caused by an event, such as the death of a loved one. Psychiatrists differ from psychologists and doctors because they have both medical and psychological training. Thus, they can prescribe drugs when necessary, but also know how to counsel patients.
When psychiatrists get new patients, they begin by gathering information about them. They meet with patients and ask them about their current and any previous mental health problems.