Medical Specialties Essay Example

Medical Specialties Essay Example Medical Specialties Paper Medical Specialties Paper Urology, dermatology, cardiology, endocrinology, hematology, radiology, pathology and psychiatry are some of the specialties in medicine (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). These areas collectively play a role in ensuring that various illness and conditions that may affect the human person are accurately addressed with each addressing a unique area. Urology is mainly concerned with the conditions and infections that may affect the urinary tract (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). Both male and female reproductive systems are included in this area of specialization which is often carried out with andrology. Dermatology as an area of medical specialization is mainly concerned with ensuring the overall wellbeing of the largest organ in the human body: the skin (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). Other appendages to the skin for instance hair, nails and seat glands are also include in dermatology. Cardiology is concerned with treatment and management of disorder and conditions that affect the cardiovascular systems. The heart, heart defects, coronary artery diseases and valvular diseases are some of the areas under this area of specialization (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). Endocrinology is mainly concerned with understanding and dealing with the conditions that are associated with hormonal imbalances in the body. The endocrine system and thyroid glands are the two main areas of concern under this specialty which aids in management of conditions like diabetes and thyroid diseases (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). Hematology is an area of internal medicine that is concerned with blood and diseases that affect the blood (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). An understanding of blood forming organs is a perquisite in this area of specialization. Use of radiation and radiation technologies in imaging and identification of internal tissue that may display anomalies is the main goal in radiology (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). Diagnosis; X-rays and scans are the key activities involved in radiology. Pathology is a science that is mainly concerned with understanding and diagnosing diseases via examining cells and organs (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). An understanding of disease process is important in determining the type and extent of a medical condition under this specialty. Psychiatry is considered one of the widest specialties in medicine that is concerned with studying the biological, psychological and social factors or conditions that affect the etiology, diagnosis and management of conditions that affect individual behavior, cognition an even perception (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). It is concerned with management of the mentally sick, psychology and even psychotherapy. Psychiatry All physician have the ability to diagnose mental illness though the complexity of the conditions may sometime require specialized management thus psychiatry. Specialization in psychiatry during senior years of practice and certification by national psychiatric bodies for instance the APA are the requirements for one to be a psychiatrist (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). A deeper understanding of psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral theories and psychotherapy differentiates them from general physicians and psychologists (APA, 2009). Psychiatry is often allied to endocrinology, Urology, radiology and pathology because of the nature of mental disorders. Mental disorder can be results of neurological disorder, STIs, hormonal imbalances and disease conditions thus the need to work closely with these areas of medicine. Diagnosis and management of psychiatric conditions is often dependent on other areas of medicine. Learning problems, autism, family conflicts, dementias, depression, post stroke cognitive complications, addiction, forensics, sleep disorders and pain are some of the complications that most patients that psychiatrists deal with display (Psychiatry. com, 2009). Latency in behavior and violence are the other common symptoms that are displayed by patients with psychiatric disorders. The ICD-10 and DSM are diagnostic tools that are often used in determination of the exact condition that one is suffering from (Sadock, Kaplan, Sadock, 2007). Standard cognitive and personality assessment tools and procedures find use in determining the extent of a condition and therefore approach that can be used in its management. Medical imaging, electroconvulsive therapy, MRI and blood sample tests are the other important processes that are carried out in management or diagnosis of psychiatric conditions. Donepezil, razadyne and Exelon patch are some of the medication that are used in management of psychiatric disorders (Psychiatry. com, 2009). Court orders, blood sample test, scan images and patient history reports are some of the documents that psychiatrists handle. Apart from court orders the other kinds of reports are mainly concerned with management of the patient and play an important role in diagnosis and assessment of the developments made by a patient (Psychiatry. com, 2009). Court orders are common due to the fact that most psychiatric conditions are associated with loss or limitation of patient autonomy which creates a need for a clear legal framework to ensure that the patients are well taken care of (Psychiatry. com, 2009). In an interview over phone with Dr. Rebecca Landa who is the director of Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) in Kennedy Krieger Institute she stated that psychiatry is more than just management of different psychiatric disorders rather it must incorporate continuous research into their treatment and management approaches. She stressed on the role played by other areas of medicine and research in ensuring that causes of psychiatric disorders are understood. The role of research in psychiatry has been central to the developments that have been made so far and is important in determining any development that may be made in future. The need to incorporate multiple disciplines including sociology in psychiatry is due to the complexity associated with management and understanding psychiatric disorders that makes it hard to use a one-dimensional approach to its management. She perceives psychiatry as a field of medicine that encompasses all other specialties and therefore playing an important role in ensuring that the developments in medicine are reflected to the society. According to Dr. Landa, developments in medicine are portrayed in psychiatry due to its close correlation to all other areas of medicine. â€Å"Until that time when all psychiatric conditions will be understood and managed there will always be a need for development in other areas of medicine† was her closing quote that reflects the importance of psychiatry in practice and theory. References APA (2009). Early Career Psychiatrists. Retrieved 16 July 2009 from psych. org/Resources/EarlyCareerPsychiatrists. aspx Psychiatry. com (2009). Geriatric Psychiatry. Retrieved 16 July 2009 from psychiatry. com/directory/index. phpcat=7PHPSESSID=0ac4e721ff668d398671ab52fcc0317c Sadock, B. J. , Kaplan, H. I. , Sadock, V. A. (2007). Kaplan Sadocks synopsis of psychiatry: behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry. (10th ed. ). Washington, DC: Lippincott Williams ; Wilkins, 2007