psychiatry

[si-kahy-uh-tree, sahy-]

noun

1. the practice or science of diagnosing and treating mental disorders.

psychiatry

/ saɪˈkaɪətrɪ /

noun

1. the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness

psychiatry

1. The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.

psychiatry

1. The medical science that studies and treats mental illness and mental maladjustment. Psychiatrists treat mental disorders; psychologists study mental activities, whether healthy or disordered. In the United States, psychiatrists usually hold the degree of doctor of medicine (M.D.) and may prescribe medication for their patients.

Other Word Forms

• psychiatric adjective
• psychiatrical adjective
• psychiatrically adverb
• nonpsychiatric adjective
• psychiatrist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychiatry¹

First recorded in 1840–50; psych- + -iatry

Example Sentences

"Since last year he has not delivered," says Dr Sharma, who is six years into his training in child and adolescent psychiatry and is a BMA rep, when asked why walkouts have returned.

From BBC

“Researchers have been studying the possible connections between acetaminophen and autism for more than a decade,” said Dr. David Mandell, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

From Los Angeles Times

“No other drug has ever been able to alleviate the functional and neuropsychiatric symptoms of traumatic brain injury,” Dr. Nolan Williams, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, said in a statement on the results.

From Los Angeles Times

Dr. Steven Locke, a former Harvard Medical School psychiatry professor, wrote in an email that the question of whether psilocybin has any medical applications “remains controversial.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Oftentimes there is no information on what the risks are if you don't treat ADHD," said Prof Samuele Cortese, study author and professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at University of Southampton.

From BBC