Regulated health professions
Psychiatry
What is Psychiatry?
- What is Psychiatry for?
- Specialist medical diagnosis and treatment of mental illness
- Is Psychiatry legally regulated?
- Medical profession, specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapeutic medicine (Physicians Act). Listed in the register of the Austrian Medical Chamber.
- Does Psychiatry treat illnesses?
- Yes. Medical diagnosis and treatment, including medication.
Psychiatry is the medical specialty for mental illness. Psychiatrists are physicians with several years of specialist training. They are the only group listed here who may prescribe medication, issue sick notes and help rule out physical causes.
Their core competence lies with moderate to severe conditions where medication is useful or necessary, such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia or addiction. Psychiatry is also responsible in acute crises and for inpatient treatment.
Many psychiatrists combine medication with supportive conversations. Longer-term psychotherapy is usually provided by psychotherapists; psychiatry, psychotherapy and clinical psychology often work together.
You can see a psychiatrist with your e-card (contracted practice) or privately. If a severe condition is suspected, if you have suicidal thoughts, or if medication is part of the picture, psychiatry is the right address.
What is allowed
- Medically diagnose mental illness (ICD)
- Prescribe and adjust medication
- Issue sick notes and expert reports
- Arrange inpatient admission, including in acute crises
Where are the limits?
- Does not replace longer-term psychotherapy; often both are needed
- Public appointments are usually short
How to recognise quality
- Listed in the medical register, publicly searchable
- Takes time to explain effects and side effects
- Uses medication as part of a plan, not as the only answer
- Refers to psychotherapy or clinical psychology when useful
How it works
- Appointmentwith a contracted or private doctor; in acute cases outpatient clinic or crisis service
- First consultationhistory, diagnosis, treatment plan
- Treatmentmedication and follow-ups, often combined with therapy
- Courseregular check-up appointments