Mental disorders are so numerous and different that defining the term “mental disorder” is a little difficult. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recognizes over four hundred different definitions of mental disorders. Generally speaking, a mental disorder is an abnormal behavioral or psychological pattern in an individual. Many disorders fit this definition, and there are several health care careers that treat them.

People interested in healthcare employment in a field that addresses mental disorders could look into the following professions:

• Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysts study and interpret human behavior, explore the relationship between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind, and delve into past experiences to find some sort of resolution to a patient’s mental problem. Psychoanalysis was developed by Sigmund Freud.
• Psychiatry: Psychiatrists are specialists in diagnosing and treating mental, behavioral, or emotional illnesses. They are trained psychotherapists who can prescribe psychiatric medication and perform or order tests if necessary.
• Psychology: Psychologists and psychiatrists share similar aims, but differ in that psychiatrists are licensed physicians. Psychologists cannot prescribe medication. They are also trained psychotherapists.
• Primary Care Physicians: A primary care doctor is able to diagnose and treat some mental disorders or refer patients suffering from them to specialists.

With the possible exception of psychology, the above listed professions require specific medical degrees and all require years of study and hard work. But for those who have made it their career to help people with mental disorders, all that time and effort is outweighed by the benefits of the work.