How to Learn Psychiatry
A structured path through Psychiatry — from first principles to confident mastery. Check off each milestone as you go.
Psychiatry Learning Roadmap
Click on a step to track your progress. Progress saved locally on this device.
Foundations of Neuroscience and Psychology
2-3 weeksStudy brain anatomy, neural signaling, major neurotransmitter systems (serotonin, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine), and foundational psychological theories of human behavior and development.
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Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis
2-3 weeksLearn to conduct a psychiatric interview, perform a mental status examination, use the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 diagnostic frameworks, and develop differential diagnoses for presenting symptoms.
Mood Disorders and Anxiety Disorders
2-3 weeksStudy major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, and specific phobias. Understand their pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and evidence-based treatments.
Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia
2-3 weeksExplore schizophrenia spectrum disorders, schizoaffective disorder, and brief psychotic disorder. Learn about positive and negative symptoms, the dopamine hypothesis, and antipsychotic pharmacology.
Psychopharmacology
3-4 weeksMaster the major medication classes: antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, and stimulants. Understand mechanisms of action, side effects, drug interactions, and monitoring requirements.
Psychotherapy Modalities
2-3 weeksStudy evidence-based psychotherapies including CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, motivational interviewing, and family systems therapy. Understand indications and integration with pharmacotherapy.
Special Populations and Subspecialties
2-3 weeksExplore child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and the unique considerations for each population.
Ethics, Law, and Systems of Care
2-3 weeksStudy psychiatric ethics (informed consent, capacity, confidentiality), mental health law (involuntary commitment, duty to warn), the recovery model, community psychiatry, global mental health, and emerging treatments (TMS, ketamine, psychedelic-assisted therapy).
Explore your way
Choose a different way to engage with this topic — no grading, just richer thinking.
Explore your way — choose one: