Psychiatry deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research of mental disorders

The University of Adelaide Discipline of Psychiatry has a diverse range of research interests. There are several major themes focusing on medical and health professional education, cognitive neuroscience, schizophrenia, depression and comorbidity and health psychology.

The Discipline of Psychiatry is situated across five sites, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Women's & Children's Hospital, The Adelaide Clinic and the Lyell McEwin Health Service. At each of these sites sub-units of the Discipline are based and contribute to the teaching of the undergraduates who are posted to those sites. These clinical sub-units also play an active role in the administration of the regional mental health services and the teaching of trainee psychiatrists.

The Discipline has many collaborative relationships, both interstate and overseas. It plays a core role in the Medical Faculty by highlighting the critical elements of the doctor/patient relationship in the practice of medicine, as well as basic skills in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorder. This is becoming an area where there are increasing skills demanded of general practitioners.