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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 Disabilities - Lincoln

      Lincoln, LN1 1FS

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disabilities - Lincoln job (opens in a new window) [7]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disabilities-Forensic & Autism

      Marston Green, B37 7HL

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disabilities-Forensic & Autism job (opens in a new window) [8]
    • 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) [9]
    • Specialty Doctor in Intellectual Disability (attracts £15K RRP)

      Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7AD

      Salary:
      £59175.00 to £95400.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialty Doctor in Intellectual Disability (attracts £15K RRP) job (opens in a new window) [10]
    • 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) [11]
    • 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) [12]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychiatry of Learning Disability

      Leeds, LS12 3QE

      Salary:
      £114894.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychiatry of Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in CAMHS Learning Disabilities Psychiatry

      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 Psychiatry job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • 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) [15]
    • Specialty Doctor - Learning Disability Psychiatry, Preston

      Goosnargh, PR3 2JH

      Salary:
      £59175.00 to £95400.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialty Doctor - Learning Disability Psychiatry, Preston job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability

      Banbury, OX16 5AU

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Oxford Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • 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) [18]
    • 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) [19]
    • Learning Disabilities Support Worker

      Wombourne, WV5 0EQ

      Salary:
      £12.60
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cygnet Health Care
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Learning Disabilities Support Worker job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities

      Pembroke Dock, SA72 6DY

      Salary:
      £46840.00 to £53602.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hywel Dda University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Clinical Psychologist- Learning Disability

      Wallsend, NE28 7PD

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologist- Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Learning Disabilities Admin Support

      Pontyclun, CF72 8JX

      Salary:
      £26928.00 to £29551.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Swansea Bay University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Learning Disabilities Admin Support job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • Specialist CAMHS Practitioner - Learning Disabilities

      Wembley, HA9 6JE

      Salary:
      £51883.00 to £58544.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist CAMHS Practitioner - Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Community Learning Disabilities Team Manager

      Stroud, GL5 2HZ

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Learning Disabilities Team Manager job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Principal Clinical Psychologist (Learning Disabilities)

      London, SE5 8AZ

      Salary:
      £70387.00 to £80465.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Principal Clinical Psychologist (Learning Disabilities) job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Specialty Doctor in Learning Disability

      Southampton, SO40 2RZ

      Salary:
      £59175.00 to £95400.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialty Doctor in Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Assistant Psychologist Learning Disabilities Services

      TBC, SA31 3BB

      Salary:
      £30420.00 to £37030.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Hywel Dda University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Assistant Psychologist Learning Disabilities Services job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Matron Health Liaison (Learning Disabilities)

      TBC, LL11 7TD

      Salary:
      £54550.00 to £61412.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Matron Health Liaison (Learning Disabilities) job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Consultant in Learning Disabilities - IOW

      Sandown, PO36 9EA

      Salary:
      £99532.00 to £131964.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Learning Disabilities - IOW job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Learning Disabilities

      Pool, TR15 3QE

      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) [31]
    • 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) [32]
    • Specialist Learning Disability Weight Management Dietitian

      Bedford, MK41 6AT

      Salary:
      £35392.00 to £42618.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      East London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Learning Disability Weight Management Dietitian job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • Band 6 Specialist Learning Disability Physiotherapist

      Swindon, SN25 4AN

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 6 Specialist Learning Disability Physiotherapist job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • Band 6 Specialist Learning Disability Physiotherapist

      Swindon, SN25 4AN

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCRG Care Group
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 6 Specialist Learning Disability Physiotherapist job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • Service Manager Learning Disabilities, Transitions & Safeguarding

      Morden, SM4 5DX

      Salary:
      £65476.00 to £70152.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      London Borough Of Merton
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Service Manager Learning Disabilities, Transitions & Safeguarding job (opens in a new window) [35]
    • Senior Community Learning Disability / CAMHS practitioner

      Ipswich, IP1 2GA

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Community Learning Disability / CAMHS practitioner job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Clinical Lead OT- Complex Disability Team

      Wirral, CH63 4JY

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Lead OT- Complex Disability Team job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Assistant Director for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities

      Bronllys, LD3 0LU

      Salary:
      £89491.00 to £103203.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Powys Teaching Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Assistant Director for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [38]
    • Community Mental Health and Learning Disability Advocate

      Llandrindod, LD1 5HF

      Salary:
      £30420.00 to £37030.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Powys Teaching Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Mental Health and Learning Disability Advocate job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Adult Learning Disabilities

      East Dulwich, SE22 8SW

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Secondment
      Employer:
      Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Adult Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [40]
    • Health Care Support Worker - Community Learning Disabilities

      Warrington, WA5 1UD

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Care Support Worker - Community Learning Disabilities job (opens in a new window) [41]
    • Band 6 Occupational Therapist - Forensic Learning Disability

      Enfield, EN2 8JL

      Salary:
      £42939.00 to £50697.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      455 North London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 6 Occupational Therapist - Forensic Learning Disability job (opens in a new window) [42]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist - Forensic Psychiatry

      Bristol, BS16 1EG

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist - Forensic Psychiatry job (opens in a new window) [43]
    • 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) [44]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry

      Wickford, SS11 7XX

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry job (opens in a new window) [45]
  • The Royal College of Psychiatrists [46] 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 [47]
  • Old age psychiatry [48]
  • Liaison psychiatry [49]
  • Knowledge and library services [50]

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/C9274-25-0207 [8] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9444-25-0240 [9] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9367-25-0451 [10] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9325-25-0333 [11] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9351-25-0526 [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9367-25-0447 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9173-25-0193 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9798-1427 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9130-25-0470 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9351-25-0580 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9267-25-0682 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9350-25-0301 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9395-25-0667 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0233-25-1212 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9100-25-0639 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9319-25-0539 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9130-25-0473 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9333-25-0705 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9327-25-0504 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9334-25-0501 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9348-25-1250 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9100-25-0627 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9050-25-1528 [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9348-25-1171 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9201-25-0530 [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B9814-25-128 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9363-25-0522 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0279-25-0917 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0019-25-2785 [36] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9246-25-0642 [37] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9408-25-0438 [38] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9070-25-0318 [39] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9070-25-0307 [40] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9196-25-0974 [41] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9350-25-0723 [42] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9455-25-0209 [43] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9342-25-0394 [44] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9301-25-0684 [45] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9364-25-0579 [46] https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/become-a-psychiatrist/choose-psychiatry/what-is-psychiatry/types-of-psychiatrist/intellectual-disability [47] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/general-practitioner [48] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/psychiatry/old-age-psychiatry [49] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/psychiatry/liaison-psychiatry [50] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services