A professional who diagnoses and treats patients with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Responsibilities include:

• Organizes data concerning patient's family, medical history, and onset of symptoms obtained from patient, relatives, and other sources, such as nurse, general duty and social worker, psychiatric .
• Examines patient to determine general physical condition, following standard medical procedures.
• Orders laboratory and other special diagnostic tests and evaluates data obtained.
• Determines nature and extent of mental disorder, and formulates treatment program.
• Treats or directs treatment of patient, utilizing variety of psychotherapeutic methods and medications.