DNB Psychiatry
or Diplomate of National Board in Psychiatry also known as DNB in Psychiatry is a
Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after
completion of their MBBS. The duration of this postgraduate course is 3 years,
and it focuses on the study of various concepts related to the field of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders.
Admission to this course is done through the NEET PG Entrance exam
conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counselling based
on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State
Authorities.
The
fee for pursuing DNB (Psychiatry) from accredited institutes/hospitals is Rs.1,25,000 to Rs.3,20,000 per year.
After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the
job market or pursue a super-specialization course where DNB Psychiatry
is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs at positions as
Senior residents, Junior Consultants, Consultants etc. with an approximate salary
range of Rs. 5,00,000 to Rs. 16,00,000 per year.
DNB is
equivalent to MD/MS/DM/MCh degrees awarded respectively in medical and surgical
super specialties. The list of recognized qualifications awarded
by the Board in various broad and super specialties as approved by the
Government of India are included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical
Council Act, 1956.
The Diplomate
of National Board in broad-specialty qualifications and super specialty
qualifications when granted in a medical institution with the attached hospital
or in a hospital with the strength of five hundred or more beds, by the
National Board of Examinations, shall be equivalent in all respects to the
corresponding postgraduate qualification and the super-specialty qualification
granted under the Act, but in all other cases, senior residency in a medical
college for an additional period of one year shall be required for such
qualification to be equivalent for the purposes of teaching also.
What is DNB in Psychiatry?
Diplomate of National Board in Psychiatry,
also known as DNB (Psychiatry) or DNB in Psychiatry is a three-year postgraduate
programme that candidates can pursue after completing MBBS.
Psychiatry is the branch of medical science dealing
with the treatment
and prevention of various mental disorders and issues.
The National
Board of Examinations (NBE) has released a curriculum for DNB in Psychiatry.
The curriculum governs the education and training of DNBs in Psychiatry.
PG education intends to create
specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in
science through research and training.
The required training done by a
postgraduate specialist in the field of Psychiatry
would help the specialist recognize the community’s health needs. The student
should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware
of the recent advances in their speciality.
The candidate should be a highly
competent specialist in Psychiatry possessing a broad range of skills that will enable her/him to practice Psychiatry independently. The PG
candidate should also acquire the basic skills in the teaching
medical/para-medical students.
The candidate is also expected to
know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting
library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs
to upgrade her/ his knowledge.
Course Highlights
Here are some of the course highlights of DNB in Psychiatry
Name of Course |
DNB in Psychiatry |
Level |
Postgraduate |
Duration of Course |
Three years |
Course Mode |
Full Time |
Minimum Academic Requirement |
MBBS degree obtained from any |
Admission Process / Entrance Process / |
Entrance Exam (NEET PG) |
Course Fees |
Rs.1,25,000 to Rs.3,20,000 per year |
Average Salary |
Rs. 5,00,000 to |
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for DNB in Psychiatry are defined as the
set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet in order to be
eligible for admission, which includes:
Candidates must be in possession of an
undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical
Council of India (MCI) now NMC.
Candidates should have done a compulsory rotating internship of one year
in a teaching institution or other institution which is recognized by the
Medical Council of India (MCI) now NMC.
The candidate must have obtained permanent registration of any State
Medical Council to be eligible for admission.
The
medical college’s recognition cut-off dates for the MBBS Degree courses and
compulsory rotatory Internship shall be as prescribed by the Medical Council of
India (now NMC).
Candidates
who have passed the final examination, leading to the award of a Post Graduate
Degree (MD/MS) from an Indian University, which is duly recognized as per
provisions of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019 and the first
schedule of the IMC Act can apply for the DNB Final examination in the same
broad specialty.
Admission
Process
The admission process contains a few steps to
be followed in order by the candidates for admission to DNB in Psychiatry. Candidates can view the complete admission
process for DNB in Psychiatry
mentioned below:
- The NEET PG or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Post
Graduate is a national-level master’s level examination conducted by the NBE
for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses. - The requirement
of eligibility criteria for participation in counselling towards PG seat
allotment conducted by the concerned counselling authority shall be in lieu of
the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (as per the latest amendment)
notified by the MCI (now NMC) with prior approval of MoHFW.
S.No. |
Category |
Eligibility Criteria |
1. |
General |
50th Percentile |
2. |
SC/ST/OBC (Including PWD of SC/ST/OBC) |
40th Percentile |
3. |
UR PWD |
45th Percentile |
Fees Structure
The fee structure for DNB in Psychiatry varies from
accredited institute/hospital to hospital. The fee is generally less for
Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for DNB in Psychiatry is Rs.1,25,000 to Rs.3,20,000 per year.
Colleges offering DNB in Psychiatry
Various accredited institutes/hospitals across India offer courses for pursuing DNB (Psychiatry).
As per the National Board of Examinations website, the following accredited institutes/hospitals are offering DNB (Psychiatry) courses for the academic year 2022-23.
Hospital/Institute |
Specialty |
No. of Accredited Seat(s) |
Asha Hospital |
Psychiatry |
4 |
Base Hospital |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Hospital |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Dr. R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital |
Psychiatry |
1 |
Government Medical College and Associated Hospital |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Government Mental Health Centre |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Govt. Medical College |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Gujarat Institute of Mental Health Hospital |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Hospital for Mental Health |
Psychiatry |
2 |
INDLAS Vijayawada Institute of Mental Health and Neuro |
Psychiatry |
3 |
Institute of Mental Health |
Psychiatry |
2 |
K.J. Somaiya Medical College |
Psychiatry |
2 |
MANASA NURSING HOME |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Mental Health Centre |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences |
Psychiatry |
1 |
Ranchi Institute of Nuero – Psychiatry and Allied Sciences |
Psychiatry |
1 |
Schizophrenia Research Foundation |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital |
Psychiatry |
2 |
Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, |
Psychiatry |
1 |
Syllabus
A DNB
in Psychiatry is a three years specialization course which provides
training in the stream of Psychiatry.
The
course content for DNB in Psychiatry is given in the NBE Curriculum released by the National Board of Examinations, which can
be assessed through the link mentioned below:
The three-year period is divided into six semesters. These semesters cover theoretical teaching imparted by the following activities as well as clinical duties.
1. Basic Sciences as applied to psychiatry
a. Basic and applied Electrophysiology
b. Magnetic Resonance and Implications for Psychiatry
c. Psychology of human behavior and mental disorders
d. Consciousness
e. Chronobiology
f. Culture and its influence on human behavior and mental disorders
g. Aggression, Violence, their influence on human behavior and disease
h. Intelligence, aptitude and achievement
i. Normal and abnormal psychology
j. Human social behavior and implications for mental health and disorder
k. Information Processing: Brain Models of Mind
l. Experimental Animal Research and Implications for Mental Disorders
m. Bioethics and human rights
n. Biostatistics and principles of research methodology including clinical trials
o. Forensic science, legal issues and mental disorders
p. Classification
q. Prevention of mental disorders and promotion of mental health
r. Health Policy issues
s. Neuroanatomy
t. Neurophysiology
u. Neurochemistry
v. Genetics
w. Learning and memory
x. Theories of personality
y. Epidemiology
z. Principles of clinical psychology and psychological testing (including neuropsychology)
2. Clinical Psychiatry:
a. Prenatal development, infancy, childhood and developmental disorders
b. Neurocognitive disorders
c. Neurodevelopmental disorders
d. Schizophrenia or other primary psychotic disorders, and Catatonia
e. Mood disorders
f. Anxiety or fear-related disorders
g. Obsessive-compulsive or related disorders
h. Disorders specifically associated with stress
i. Dissociative disorders
j. Feeding or eating disorders
k. Elimination disorders
l. Disorders of bodily distress or bodily experience
m. Disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviours
n. Impulse control disorders
o. Disruptive behaviour or dissocial disorders
p. Personality disorders and related traits
q. Paraphilic disorders
r. Factitious disorders
s. Psychiatric emergencies
t. Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine
u. Old age psychiatry
v. Any other condition which may be a focus of clinical attention and management
w. Principles of management
x. Pharmacological management and its complications
y. Psychological management
z. Psychosocial management
aa. Other physical treatments
bb. Community Psychiatry and National Programmes of Mental Health
cc. Psychiatric Rehabilitation
dd. Forensic Psychiatry including all laws related to mental health
ee. Psychiatry and Ethics
3. Effect of climate change and heat wave on mental health:
What is climate change, stress, and distress due to climate change, mental disorders specifically talked about in relation to climate change (for example, eco-anxiety, ecofear, eco-grief, etc), the impact of climate change on psychiatric epidemiology, coping with climate change, understanding resilience in dealing with climate change, the effect of climate change and heat on persons receiving psychotropics, the impact of climate change on the mental health of migrants, children and adolescents, elderly; Building health systems resilience to climate change.
4. Air Pollution
Adverse effects of air pollution on mental health including the growing children, pregnancy, old age population
Career Options
After
completing a DNB in Psychiatry,
candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the
Private sector.
In the Government sector, candidates have various options to
choose from, including Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.
While in the Private sector the
options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (Psychiatry), Junior
Consultant, Senior Consultant (Psychiatry), Consultant Psychiatry
Specialist, etc.
Courses
After DNB in Psychiatry Course
DNB in Psychiatry is a
specialization course that can be pursued after finishing MBBS. After pursuing
a specialization in DNB (Psychiatry),
a candidate could also pursue super specialization courses recognized by NMC,
where DNB (Psychiatry) is a feeder
qualification.
DM Geriatric Mental Health is the course that requires DNB (Psychiatry) as a feeder qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – DNB in Psychiatry Course
Question: What is a DNB in Psychiatry?
Answer: DNB Psychiatry or Diplomate
of National Board in Psychiatry also known as DNB in Psychiatry is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them
after completion of their MBBS.
Question: Is DNB in Psychiatry equivalent to MD in Psychiatry?
Answer: DNB in Psychiatry is equivalent to MD in Psychiatry, the list of recognized qualifications awarded
by NBE in various broad and super specialties as approved by the Government of
India are included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act,
1956.
Question: What is the duration of a DNB in Psychiatry?
Answer: DNB in Psychiatry is a
postgraduate programme of three years.
Question: What is the eligibility of a DNB in Psychiatry?
Answer: Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate
MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of
India (now NMC).
Question: What is the scope of a DNB in Psychiatry?
Answer: DNB in Psychiatry
offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.
Question: What is the average salary for a DNB in Psychiatry postgraduate
candidate?
Answer: The DNB in Psychiatry candidate’s average salary is between Rs. 5,00,000 to Rs. 16,00,000 per
year depending on
the experience.
Question: Are DNB Psychiatry and MD Psychiatry equivalent for
pursuing teaching jobs?
Answer: The Diplomate of National Board in broad-speciality
qualifications and super speciality qualifications when granted in a medical
institution with attached hospital or in a hospital with the strength of five
hundred or more beds, by the National Board of Examinations, shall be
equivalent in all respects to the corresponding postgraduate qualification and
the super-speciality qualification granted under the Act, but in all other
cases, senior residency in a medical college for an additional period of one
year shall be required for such qualification to be equivalent for the purposes
of teaching also.