Questions about Psychiatry. Lifestyle, stress, pay, competitveness.

[license43]

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[MiddleRoad]

Hey all, DO Medical student here. Slightly interested in Psychiatry.
But just concerned about the stress of the job.... How hard is it mentally..?? I mean how can you wake up everyday where you have to listen to peoples problems on a daily basis?
I know psych docs have a high satisfaction rating, but how?

Also, how competitive is it to get into psych as a DO student? I know its probably less competitive but just wondering how good my grades and board scores need to be.

Also... how is the salary usually like east coast?? Is it possible to make 300+ if you work more than 40 hours???

Many past threads should answer all of your questions, but here are my quick takes.

How hard? Depends on you more than the specialty of Psychiatry. Some people might find it hard to be responsible for rapidly repairing organs and bones after a physical trauma, others have great difficulty sitting with people in emotional distress and talking about the experience of psychological trauma. The question is what are you more comfortable doing on a day to day basis? For me the ability to get to know my patients, provide ongoing support, build trust, watch people get better with treatment, and marvel at the endlessly interesting variety of human personality and experience are what keep me highly satisfied as a psychiatrist.

Difficulty for DO students to get in? Not an expert on this, but I can say it's more difficult at most competitive MD programs--where you would need good grades and boards scores to even be considered at these residencies. Not as competitive if you apply very widely and include DO programs.

Salary? Yes, you can definitely make more than 300K in the Northeast, working 40+ hours per week. This is especially true if you work in more rural, underserved areas. It would be much more difficult to make this salary if you work in an academic center.

 

[MrWonderful]

Few thoughts:
-Psychiatry is the hidden gem of medicine
-Breadth of subspecialties (C&L, Child, Addiction, Forensics, Geriatrics, Sleep, Psychosomatic, Pain, Neuropsych)
-Opportunity to work anywhere you want
-Opportunity to make a lot of money (if that's your thing)
-Endless academic and teaching opportunities
-Large % of psychiatrists don't accept insurance
-Among the highest career satisfaction in all the land
-Cutting edge innovation and 'procedures' right now (ECT, VNS, Withdrawal stimulators & implants
-Stigma eroding due to political emphasis on mental health
-House staff have what seems like excellent appreciation for psych

Also, the 'DO' Psych residencies are mostly pitiful -- don't apply to them. Your training will lack in comparison to established ACGME programs. 4th year DO here currently on the interview trail. Is it harder? Yes. I am the token DO at many of my interviews. Is it possible? Yes. Psych is still not Ortho.

Within 5-10 years psych will be the new derm. You heard it here first

 

[QueenJames]

FWIW.

I know many folks who were hardcore full-fledged psych in the class years ahead of me but were turned off to it after they rotated in it.

These are all valid questions, but lifestyle won't mean much if you don't actually immerse yourself in the day-to-day.

I would say worry about boards... then rotate... and then decide.

good luck!