Clinical psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior, and psychiatric disorders.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels compelled to perform in response to an obsession. These behaviors are aimed at preventing or reducing stress. Many people with OCD recognize their compulsions as irrational.

Here we look at two of the most common severe mental illnesses: schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (or manic depression). Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects a person’s thinking, and that can consequently alter their perception of reality, their emotions and their behaviour.

Dr. Benjamin Rush, the “father of American psychiatry,” was the first to believe that mental illness is a disease of the mind and not a “possession of demons.” His classic work, Observations and Inquiries upon the Diseases of the Mind, published in 1812, was the first psychiatric textbook printed in the United States.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors and evaluate patients to determine whether their symptoms are the result of a physical illness, a combination of physical and mental ailments or strictly mental issues.

Top 5 Best Paying Related Psychiatrist Jobs in the U.S.

However, you may need to see a mental health specialist if you have severe anxiety. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. A psychologist and certain other mental health professionals can diagnose anxiety and provide counseling (psychotherapy).