These three lessons from my medical student days are still a big part of why I chose psychiatry for my medical specialty training. In part it's because I am still fascinated with how the brain works, both in health and in illness. In part it's because of my own personality features. But a big part of the answer is my conviction that the best answers for my patients will eventually come from scientific research. But as many readers well know, we haven't arrived yet.
Most treatments leave something to be desired.
For instance, antipsychotic medications have many annoying and sometimes serious side effects. Antiobsessional treatments usually reduce symptoms only partially. And none of the current treatments for these conditions is usually curative. Further knowledge of the causes and physiology behind these illnesses is bound to lead to better treatment. I know better than to hope that all my research efforts will lead to better treatment.