MD Psychiatry - Course, Eligibility, Admission, Colleges, Fees, Syllabus, Salary, Career Options

Doctorate of Medicine in Psychiatry or MD Psychiatry is a three-year postgraduate course focusing on treating, diagnosing, and preventing emotional, mental, and behavioural disorders. The course covers subjects such as Basic sciences related to psychiatry, clinical psychiatry, and recent advances in psychiatry including forensic psychiatry and community mental health.

After earning an MBBS degree from an accredited university with at least 55–60 per cent, one can pursue an MD in psychiatry. The candidates have to appear for NEET PG or INI CET entrance test, along with counselling sessions, to get admission to this course.

Highlights: MD in Psychiatrist

MD in Psychiatrist Eligibility Criteria

The candidates applying for the MD in Psychiatrist meet certain eligibility requirements before applying for the admissions. The eligibility requirements for MD in Psychiatrist vary from one institution to another. Mentioned below are the eligibility requirements for the MD in Psychiatrist course:

• To be eligible to pursue an MD in Psychiatrist, a candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in medicine such as an MBBS.

• A candidate should have done MBBS/ DMS/ BHMS/ or BDS qualification issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or State Medical Council to be eligible for this course.

• A candidate needs to pass the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG exam or INI CET to get admission to this course.

MD in Psychiatrist Admission Procedure

A candidate seeking admission to an institution or university offering an MD in Psychiatry in India must meet the eligibility requirements. Different colleges and universities may have different eligibility requirements, with some requiring additional qualifications. The admissions procedure for MD in Psychiatry is mentioned below:

• In India, admission to an MD in Psychiatrist is offered by most colleges/ universities to students based on the NEET PG entrance exam scores.

• After the relevant test/ exam, counselling rounds are conducted to get final admission to this course.

Top MD in Psychiatry Entrance Exam

There is an entrance exam for the MD in Psychiatry programme. The entrance examinations for the MD in Psychiatry programme in India are conducted by both public and private universities, and prospective students should take them.

NEET PG: Following completion of the MBBS degree, the NEET PG is a national-level postgraduate entrance exam for MD programmes.

• NEET PG Result

• NEET PG Cut-off

• NEET PG Syllabus

• NEET PG Admit Card

• NEET PG Exam Pattern

INI CET: INI CET or Foundation of Public Significance Consolidated Entry Test is the public level post graduate clinical placement test led twice per year by the All India Establishment of Clinical Sciences AIIMS New Delhi.

• INI CET Result

• INI CET Cut-off Exam Date

• INI CET Exam Pattern

• INI CET Eligibility Criteria

• INI CET Application Form

Cutoff of Top Colleges

It is necessary for students to achieve the minimum score on the entrance exam. They have to meet a minimum qualifying percentage to get admitted to colleges and universities offering MD in Psychiatry programmes. The state-run colleges consider the NEET PG cutoff to assess applicants' eligibility for MD Psychiatrists.

Skills Required for MD in Psychiatrist

Candidates pursuing MD in Psychiatry must possess a certain set of abilities in order to get skilled and knowledge of Psychiatry. To facilitate learning, it is necessary to possess specific skills in order to pursue an MD in Psychiatry. Here are a few of the competencies that are required:

• Monitoring skills

• Patient management skills

• Skills in investigative procedures

• Therapeutic skill

• Academic skills

• Research skills

• Communication skills

• Examination skills

• Interpretation skills

MD in Psychiatrist Subject/ Syllabus

The subjects included in the course curriculum of MD in Psychiatrist are divided into six semesters. For the candidate’s reference, we have mentioned the Papers of the course given by The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University.

MD in Psychiatrist Fees Structure

India has a large number of public and private universities that offer MDs in psychiatry. The cost, however, differs throughout educational establishments. According to the current tuition schedules offered by various Indian universities, a candidate can pursue MD in Psychiatry by paying a fee between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 20 lakh.

Scope of MD in Psychiatrist

Since there is a constant need for physicians to serve the community, becoming a Psychiatrist MD promises a bright future. Those who pursue an MD in psychiatry will have ample career stability because they can work for federal or state governments. Additionally, candidates may practice privately out of their own clinic. Additionally, they can work in a variety of disciplines, including the teaching and research departments.

Career Options After MD in Psychiatrist

An MD in Psychiatry is a medical science-related area that allows candidates to work in clinics, hospitals, health departments, or as researchers. A candidate can work in the community after earning an MD in psychiatry. Following an MD in Psychiatry, a candidate may choose from the following employment profiles:

General Adult Psychiatrist: General Adult Psychiatrist treats people of middle age suffering from disorders like mental illness. As a medical professional, a psychiatrist is qualified to order and conducts a wide range of medical and/or psychological examinations.

Rehabilitation Psychiatrist: Rehabilitation psychiatry focuses on the needs of people with longer term and complex mental health problems. They also empower the client when they are in recovery process.

Neuropsychiatrist: Neuropsychiatrist diagnoses and treats people with mental illness thereby reducing its effect on the human brain. They treat patients suffering from mental illness.

Forensic Psychiatrist: Forensic Psychiatrist treats people who are suffering with mental disorders due to involvement in the criminal justice system. They evaluate the mental health of the patients.

Clinical Psychiatrist: Clinical Psychiatrist is a type of psychiatrist who provides diagnostic assessment, psychotherapy, psychoactive medications, and medical procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Top Recruiters

• PGIMER, Chandigarh

• Institute of Behaviour and Allied Sciences, New Delhi

• Dr. Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar

• National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)

Benefits of MD in Psychiatrics

After pursuing MD in Psychiatrist, candidates become specialists in treating mental disorders. Candidates can perform relevant investigative and therapeutic procedures for the psychiatric patient. They gain the necessary skills to manage psychiatric emergencies efficiently. They can also perform the role of a trainee and facilitate the learning of medical/nursing students, practicing physicians, and paramedical health workers.

Salary After MD in Psychiatrist

The kind of remuneration a candidate will get depends on the job role and the employer. Depending on the employer, a candidate can get varying salary packages which could range from low with a small or medium-sized organisation to higher with a large organisation. A general idea of the annual salary one can currently get in various roles are as follows:

Source: Payscale

Note: The salary might vary depending on various factors.

List of Top MD in Psychiatrist Colleges in India

Many Indian colleges and universities provide MD programmes in psychiatry. Entrance exams are the basis for the MD in Psychiatry programme's admissions process. Here is a list of the top universities in India offering an MD in Psychiatry degree:

Top Private MD in Psychiatry Colleges in India

Several private colleges in India offer MD programmes in Psychiatry. The fee difference between private and public universities is substantial. Top private universities that grant MDs in psychiatry include the following:

Top Government MD Community Medicine Colleges in India

Government-run colleges have lower tuition costs than private colleges. Some of the best government colleges that offer MD Community Medicine programme are as follows:

A candidate after completing MD in Psychiatrist becomes specialist and performs the role of Psychiatrist. They treat the people suffering from mental disorders and can also facilitate the learning of medical/nursing students, practicing physicians, paramedical health workers. They use the patient's history, physical examination, and investigative workup to diagnose the ailment.