Order and chaos : subspecialization and american psychiatry.

Psychiatrie subspecialties have emerged rapidly during the past decade. This article discusses significant influences in nonpsychiatric medicine and psychiatry that led to these developments. The process f or new subspecialty recognition, certification, and accreditation is outlined. The status of the major psychiatric subspecialties is reviewed. The impact of the changing recruitment into psychiatry is discussed for subspecialization, the psychiatric generalist, and psychiatric educational resources.