Before I start, I'll say two things. One is that you may want to post this on Aunt Minnie, only because the Radiology forum on SDN doesn't get nearly as much action as AM (probably because it exists). And second, I'll try not to repeat the same things we talked about on the phone the other night
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Honestly, this is the quote that makes me think you just haven't accepted the idea that you really want to choose psychiatry.
Right now, I know that I have a passion for the mind and figuring out how it works. I don't have a passion for radiology. Then again, I don't know how you could until your in the throws of it and start obtaining a knowledge base.
First, I personally believe if you've found a passion in your life, nothing should stop you from pursuing it. Nothing. Well, except 100 hour work weeks. Second, it's definitely possible to be passionate about radiology at our stage. Not everyone who goes into radiology is, of course...for some it's a "lifestyle" thing, for others it's the money, and for some diagnostic residency is just about getting to IR. But the difference with you is that not only have you found something you're passionate about, but it's a field where you don't have to work 80-100 hours a week for the rest of your life. And I know the pay as a psychiatrist may not be as good as some fields, but you're still going to be in a position to pay back your loans and live comfortably, all while working 40 hours a week.
What I'm gathering from your posts is that you're looking for reasons not to do psychiatry rather than reasons to choose radiology. And I think that's telling. Think to yourself "30 years down the road, which one is going to make me happier?" Seeing patients, dealing with mental illness with medications and counseling, seeing improvement/decline, working out sometimes awful social issues, etc? Or dictating report after report in a dark room (unless you want to do academics or a procedural subspecialty)? Mental illness is fascinating to learn about and my patients on psychiatry were without a doubt the most interesting ones I saw during med school. But, the day-to-day practice of psychiatry and radiology are worlds apart and you have to figure out which one suits your personality better. It sounds like this neuroimaging psych fellowship someone mentioned may be something to consider.
I will say this about radiology: the burnout rate is a lot less. It's impossible to know how you'll feel 10 years down the road as a psychiatrist, so I think the people in the other thread that brought up how it's much easier to switch from rads to psych make a great point, and I wouldn't discount it just because you want to make a decision now. No one goes into residency expecting to switch or drop out, but things happen and it's worth at least brief consideration.
Anyway, before you stress yourself out even more, do some more psychiatry-related stuff (e.g. outpatient) just to see if how much you like it. One rotation in psych probably isn't enough to base this decision on.
Good luck! Call/email/PM me if you want to talk more.
