Intellectual Disability psychiatrist
Also known as learning disability psychiatry, the psychiatry of intellectual disabilities involves working with people with learning disabilities, who are much more likely than the general population to experience mental health conditions.
The video and information below explains what an Intellectual Disability Psychiatrist does, what makes the specialty different from others in psychiatry, and why it might be a great career choice for you.
ID psychiatrists treat severe mental illness as well as a range of other mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorders.
People may physical problems and often present non-specifically (for example with withdrawal or behaviour problems) and finding out the cause is a fascinating diagnostic challenge.
It is also essential to consider the system around the person (such as family, support staff) to understand clinical problems.
In this field, you are very likely to be working in a community setting such as a clinic or even someone’s home.