CAREER OPTIONS IN PSYCHIATRY

BEING

THE TEXT OF A PAPER DELIVERED AT THE

NATIONAL POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL
COLLEGE OF NIGERIA, REVISION COURSE
IN PSYCHIATRY FEBRUARY, 2013.
BY

DR. [MRS] T.A. ADAMSON

MBBS [Ib], DPM [Eng.], MRC PSYCH [U.K],
FMC PSYCH [Nig], FWACP

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 CARREER OPTIONS IN PSYCHIATRY

Is it about:

A ● Specialization or
B ● Place of practice i.e.
> University
> General Hospitals → Federal Medical Centres
→ General Hospitals of State
Governments
> Specialists Psychiatric Hospitals
> Private practice – Psychiatric practice.

Discuss B
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Specialization in psychiatry

▲ The Royal College of Psychiatrist in UK recognizes the following

specialist areas which it calls faculties.

▲ These are:
> Academic
> Addictions
> Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
> Forensic Psychiatry
> General & Community Psychiatry
> Liaison Psychiatry
> Psychiatry of learning disability

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 > Psychiatry of Old Age
> Psychotherapy
> Rehabilitation & Social Psychiatry

▲ It also in the recent past recognizes special interest groups.

▲ As it appreciates that some psychiatrists have chosen to pursue career

options in such areas as:

> Eating Disorders

> Management in Psychiatry
> Mental Health Informatics (Electronic Psychiatry)
> Neuropsychiatry
> Private and Independent Practice
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 > Psychopharmacology
> Spirituality
> Transcultural psychiatry
> Women in Psychiatry
> Philosophy
> Gay & Lesbian

Among others.

Why Specialization

▲ Advances in the major medical disciplines inform that professionals

should move away from being a generalist to a specialist.

▲ The Nigerian situation is also changing.

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▲ The Post Graduate Medical Colleges i.e. the National & West African
Medical Colleges are now encouraging faculties to draw up curricular for
sub-specialization.

▲ I am aware that the National Post Graduate Medical College has

approved the Child and Adolescent Group Curricula in the psychiatry
faculty.

▲ Specialization abroad involves a course of training attachments in the

chosen area spanning a number of years usually about 3 years before
certification as a specialist and getting a consultant position.

▲ This usually follows the post-graduate training or dove tails into it.

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 Current Recognized Specialists Areas (UK/Nigerian
Equivalent)

Academic Psychiatry
> It is for those with a major interest in academic.

> Especially those within the university and research institutions.

> The specialty aims to promote, facilitate and stimulate interest in

high quality clinical research and teaching

> It also endeavours to ensure the availability of appropriate clinical

training.

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Nigerian Specialists

● Prof. O. Olatawura ● Prof. O. Famuyiwa (LUTH)

● Prof. O. Morakinyo (UNIBEN) ● Prof. A. Gureje (UCH)

● Prof. Makanjuola (OAU) ● Prof. O. Bayewu (UCH)

● Prof. C. Ihezue (Retired, Enugu) ● Prof. A. Abiodun (UITH)

● Prof. A. Adeyemi (LUTH) ● Prof. O Udofia (UCTH)

● Prof. R. Uwakwe (NAUTH) ● Prof. A. Obembe (UDUTH)

● Prof. A. Sijuwola ( ) ● Prof. P. Stanley (UPTH)

● Prof. O. Omigbodun (UCH) ● Prof. J. Ohaeri etc

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Addiction Psychiatry

> Addiction specialty is concerned with assessment and treatment

of individuals with disorders including social needs arising out of
use of addictive drugs or who have addictive behaviour such as
gambling.

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Nigerian Specialists

→ Dr. T. A. Adamson (Abeokuta) → Dr. A. O. Akinhanmi (Aro)

→ Prof. M. Adenekan → Prof. J. Ohaeri

→ Dr. C. Agomoh (Enugu) → Dr. P. O. Onifade (Aro)

→ Dr. A. Lawal (Yaba) etc.

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Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

> This specialty focuses on the care of psychological disturbances

and behaviour in children and adolescents

Nigerian Specialists:
● Prof. O. Olatawura
● Prof (Mrs.) A. Omigbodun (UCH)
● Dr (Mrs.) Ogun (Yaba)
● Dr. A. Agboola (Aro)
● Prof. Aina (LUTH)
● Dr. S. Shehu (AKTH)

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Forensic Psychiatry

─ Specializes in helping people with mental disorder who present a

significant risk to the public.

─ It covers areas such as assessment and treatment of mentally

disordered offenders

─ It covers investigation of the complex relationships between mental

disorder and criminal behaviour

─ It involves working with the criminal justice agencies to support

patients and to protect the public.

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Nigerian Specialists

● Dr. A. O. Ogunlesi (Aro)

● Dr. S. Oluwaniyi (Yaba)

Etc.

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General & Community Psychiatry

▲ This is the largest specialist group.

▲ It involves psychiatrists practicing in adult psychiatry.

▲ It encompasses a range of services with the provision of

psychiatric care to adults.

▲ It also consist of sub-specialists such as:

→ In-patient care
→ Day care
→ Primary care liaison
→ Assertive outreach
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Nigerian Specialists
▲ All Psychiatrists.

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 Liaison Psychiatry

▲ This specialty is concerned with providing psychiatric assessment and

treatment to patients with general medical conditions with co-occuring
psychological problems.

▲ These individuals can be seen in surgical, medical, O & G units,

primarily for problems related to general medical problems but needing
psychiatric evaluation and possible intervention.

Nigerian Specialists

● Dr. G. Amoo (Aro) ● Prof. A. Adeyemi (LUTH)

● Prof. R. Uwakwe (NAUTH) ● Dr. A. Essien (UPTH)

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Psychiatry of Learning Disability

▲ Concerned with providing assessment and treatment for

those with learning disabilities.

Nigerian Specialists

● ??

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Psychiatry of Old Age

▲ Concerned with providing psychiatric interventions for the elderly

> 65 years.

Nigerian Specialists

● Prof. O. Baiyewu (UCH)

● Prof. R. Uwakwe (NAUTH)

● Dr. A. Yusuf (ABUTH)

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Psychotherapy

▲ Offers the broad range of psychotherapeutic practice within

psychiatry.

Nigerian Specialists:
● Prof. O. Morakinyo (UBTH

● Dr. C. Ahanotu (ESUTH)

● Dr. A. Otakpor (UBTH)

● Prof. Ebigbo (Psychologist)

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Rehabilitation & Social Psychiatry

> Involved in meeting long term needs of psychiatric patients.

> Concerned with the social factors associated with mental

disorder.

Nigerian Specialists

● Dr. T. O. Adebowale (Aro)

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Special Interest Groups

Mental Health Informatics (Electronic Psychiatry)

> Involved in e-psychiatry.

Nigerian Specialists

● Dr. P. O. Onifade (Aro)

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 Transcultural Psychiatry

▲ Concerned with culture specific psychiatric disorders.

▲ Involved with how culture influences psychopathology

in psychiatry.

Nigerian Specialists:
Prof. O. Morakinyo (UBTH)
etc.

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Neuropsychiatry

▲ The specialty focuses on neurobiological basis of

psychiatric disorders.

Nigerian Specialists

● Prof. R. Makanjuola
etc.

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Private & Independent Practice

▲ Focuses on offering private practice

services for the assessment and
treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Nigerian Specialists

● Dr. A. Olayemi (Ilorin)

● Dr. I. Malomo (Lagos)
● Dr. T. Adamson (Abeokuta)
● Dr. V. Olaosebikan (Ibadan)
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