the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
"He chose to study psychiatry because he wanted to specialize in diagnosing and treating mental disorders."
The branch of medicine that subjectively diagnoses, treats, and studies mental disorders and behavioural conditions.
"Modern psychiatry focuses on clinically diagnosing and treating various mental disorders through therapy and medication rather than just biological markers alone."
In plain English: Psychiatry is the medical field that studies and treats mental health problems using medicine and therapy.
"She decided to consult a psychiatrist after feeling overwhelmed by her anxiety for months."
Usage: Psychiatry is the medical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses using both therapy and medication. Use this term specifically for doctors who can prescribe drugs to manage behavioral conditions, distinguishing it from psychology which generally does not involve prescribing power.
The word psychiatry entered English in 1846 via the French term psychiatrie. It originally combined Greek roots meaning "mind" and "treatment of," reflecting its focus on mental health care.