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Psychiatry of intellectual disability (PID)

Psychiatrists working in intellectual disability assess and treat people with intellectual or learning disabilities. 

This can include the assessment and management of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity, autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.

Life as an intellectual disability psychiatrist

People with intellectual disability (sometimes called learning disability) are more likely to have mental health problems so you’ll provide patient-centric care to improve their quality of life. 

Your patients will usually be adults aged over 18 years as younger patients tend to be seen by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. 

You’ll be required to adopt a holistic [1] approach as patients with intellectual disability often have physical conditions such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy. 

Patients often present non-specifically. For example, they demonstrate withdrawal or a change in behaviour. You’ll need to investigate and establish the cause in your diagnosis. 

Common mental health conditions you’ll treat include:

  • anxiety
  • bipolar disorder
  • depression
  • obsessive compulsive disorder
  • schizophrenia

You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team and be expected to collaborate with colleagues and a patient’s family and carers.

Psychiatry is an interesting academic discipline, whether you are interested in the biological basis of mental health problems (e.g. dementia in people with Down’s syndrome, behavioural phenotypes of genetic disorders), or the development of innovative service models or forensic aspects of intellectual disability.

How much can I earn?

You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training [2] after medical school.  Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors [3] and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' [4] page. 

How about the benefits?

  • make a difference
  • flexible and part-time working
  • high income early in your career
  • work anywhere in the world
  • excellent pension scheme
  • good holiday entitlement
  • NHS discounts in shops and restaurants

Must-have skills

  • excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
  • emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
  • teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
  • problem-solving and diagnostic skills
  • outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
  • first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients

In addition, intellectual disability psychiatrists need to demonstrate:

  • empathy and compassion and the ability to treat others with understanding and respect
  • respect for people with intellectual disabilities and the contribution they make to society
  • patience
  • excellent listening skills
  • willingness to build relationships with their patients

Entry requirements

Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.

If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.

You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.

Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.

What are my chances of starting a career in psychiatry of intellectual disability?

In 2021, there were 254 consultants in psychiatry of intellectual disability working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were 30 applications for 52 training places.

How to become an intellectual disability psychiatrist

After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme [5] where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.

After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training [6] to become an intellectual disability psychiatrist, which will take a minimum of six years.

You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.

Where a career as an intellectual disability psychiatrist can take you

You could: 
  • specialise or conduct research
  • teach medical students or postgraduate students in training
  • get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
  • Find a vacancy

    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disability-Little Plumstead

      Norfolk, NR13 5EW

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disability-Little Plumstead job (opens in a new window) [7]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist - Intellectual Disability

      Chesterfield, S44 5BL

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist - Intellectual Disability job (opens in a new window) [8]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist, Intellectual Disability - Pennine Lancashire

      Darwen, BB3 1AY

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist, Intellectual Disability - Pennine Lancashire job (opens in a new window) [9]
    • Locum Consultant Psychiatrist Intellectual Disability-Little Plumstead

      Norfolk, NR13 5EW

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Locum
      Employer:
      Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant Psychiatrist Intellectual Disability-Little Plumstead job (opens in a new window) [10]
    • Consultant Learning Disability Psychiatrist

      Swansea, SA6 6AH

      Salary:
      £106000.00 to £154760.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Swansea Bay University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Learning Disability Psychiatrist job (opens in a new window) [11]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disabilities

      Northampton, NN1 3EB

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability

      Ashington, NE63 0EY

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist (Community Forensic Learning Disabilities)

      Warrington, WA2 8WA

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist (Community Forensic Learning Disabilities) job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in CAMHS Learning Disabilities

      Worcester, WR5 1JR

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in CAMHS Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • COMMUNITY CAMHS LEARNING DISABILITY CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST

      Canterbury, CT2 8JY

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for COMMUNITY CAMHS LEARNING DISABILITY CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Team Leader Learning Disabilities

      Bronllys, LD3 0LU

      Salary:
      £46840.00 to £53602.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Powys Teaching Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Team Leader Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Community Learning Disability Team Manager

      Brigg, DN20 8JH

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Learning Disability Team Manager job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Clinical Team Leader - Learning Disabilities

      Preston, PR3 2JH

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Team Leader - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Deputy Manager - Adult Disability Service

      Guernsey, GY4 6UU

      Salary:
      £46152.00 to £62310.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      States of Guernsey
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Deputy Manager - Adult Disability Service job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Social Worker-Children's Disability Team

      Oxfordshire, OX1 1ND

      Salary:
      £37035.00 to £43693.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Oxfordshire County Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Social Worker-Children's Disability Team job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Adult Disability Service - Deputy Manager

      Guernsey, GY4 6UU

      Salary:
      £46152.00 to £62310.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      States of Guernsey
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Adult Disability Service - Deputy Manager job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Adult Safeguarding & Learning Disability Practitioner

      London, SW10 9NH

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Adult Safeguarding & Learning Disability Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • High Intensity Therapist- Learning Disability

      South Shields, NE34 8PS

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for High Intensity Therapist- Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities Professional Lead

      Swindon, SN25 4AN

      Salary:
      £62215.00 to £72293.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities Professional Lead job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Band 8A Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities

      Devizes, SN10 5DS

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 8A Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Learning Disabilities

      Bodmin, PL31 2QE

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist - Learning Disabilities

      Grimsby, DN32 7DH

      Salary:
      £43906.00 to £50612.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Care Plus Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Clinical Nursing Specialist - Learning Disability & Autism

      London, W2 1NY

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Nursing Specialist - Learning Disability & Autism job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Band 8A Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities

      Swindon, SN25 4AN

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 8A Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Adult Disability Team Leader - Community Living

      Guernsey, GY4 6UU

      Salary:
      £38744.00 to £49970.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      States of Guernsey
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Adult Disability Team Leader - Community Living job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • Learning Disabilities Support Workers (Days Only)

      Huddersfield, HD1 4HR

      Salary:
      £26208.00 to £27248.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cygnet Health Care
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Learning Disabilities Support Workers (Days Only) job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities Professional Lead

      Devizes, SN10 5DS

      Salary:
      £62215.00 to £72293.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities Professional Lead job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • Children and Young Peoples Disability Social Worker

      Trowbridge, BA14 8JN

      Salary:
      £42489.00 to £44524.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Wiltshire Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Children and Young Peoples Disability Social Worker job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • Bank Support Worker, Learning Disabilities, Complex Care

      Hereford, HR1 2PJ

      Salary:
      £16.00
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Airmid Staffing Ltd
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Bank Support Worker, Learning Disabilities, Complex Care job (opens in a new window) [35]
    • Team Leader- Community Mental Health/Learning Disabilities

      Nottingham, NG2 7PG

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Team Leader- Community Mental Health/Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Band 8a Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities & Autism

      Swindon, SN25 4AN

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 8a Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities & Autism job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Band 8a Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities & Autism

      Swindon, SN25 4AN

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 8a Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities & Autism job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Childrens Learning Disability Support Worker, East Sussex

      Bexhill-on-sea, TN40 2DZ
      Eastbourne, BN21 2UD

      Salary:
      £13.00 to £15.00
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Claimont Health LTD
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Childrens Learning Disability Support Worker, East Sussex job (opens in a new window) [38]
    • Mental Health Liaison Clinician - Learning Disability and Autism

      Oxford, OX3 7JH

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Oxford Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Mental Health Liaison Clinician - Learning Disability and Autism job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • Director of Nursing Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

      St Asaph, LL17 0JG

      Salary:
      £106967.00 to £123091.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Director of Nursing Mental Health and Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [40]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Liaison Psychiatry

      Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Liaison Psychiatry job (opens in a new window) [41]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in OPMH Psychiatry

      Weymouth, DT4 7TB

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in OPMH Psychiatry job (opens in a new window) [42]
    • Band 7 CAMHS Learning Disability PBS Deputy Lead/Clinician

      Leicester, LE2 2PL

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 7 CAMHS Learning Disability PBS Deputy Lead/Clinician job (opens in a new window) [43]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry

      Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AT

      Salary:
      £106000.00 to £154760.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry job (opens in a new window) [44]
  • The Royal College of Psychiatrists [45] has further information about being a psychiatrist of intellectual disability, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.

Other roles that may interest you

  • General practitioner [46]
  • Old age psychiatry [47]
  • Liaison psychiatry [48]
  • Knowledge and library services [49]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/psychiatry/psychiatry-intellectual-disability

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Holistic [2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Foundation_training [3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/career-opportunities-doctors/sas-doctors [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/pay-doctors [5] https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/ [6] https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/ [7] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9367-25-0528 [8] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9166-25-0320 [9] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9351-25-0636 [10] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9367-25-0526 [11] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9130-25-0470 [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9270-25-0432 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9263-25-0560 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9350-25-0301 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9798-1500 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9395-25-0667 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9070-25-0368 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9376-25-0433 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9351-25-0625 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/K0005-25-0085 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0069-25-0025 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/K0005-25-0086 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9289-CR-20 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9155-CMAHP-0625-47 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0279-25-1172 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0279-25-1192 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9201-25-0631 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B9814-25-128 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9290-25-0742 [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0279-25-1166 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/K0005-25-0079 [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0233-25-1385 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0279-25-1195 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0041-4557-02 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0125-25-0001 [36] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9186-25-0780 [37] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0279-25-1163 [38] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0047-25-0045 [39] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9267-25-0740 [40] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9050-25-1823 [41] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9301-25-0684 [42] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9152-25-0463 [43] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9313-25-0366 [44] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9050-25-1386 [45] https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/become-a-psychiatrist/choose-psychiatry/what-is-psychiatry/types-of-psychiatrist/intellectual-disability [46] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/general-practitioner [47] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/psychiatry/old-age-psychiatry [48] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/psychiatry/liaison-psychiatry [49] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services