The Department of Psychiatry of Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi is one of the oldest and largest departments in the country. From its starting in 1918, CIP has been a pioneer in the field of Psychiatry. Unlike other mental hospitals, CIP has never been a custodial care facility. It has always been an open hospital with a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach for the management of mentally ill persons. Patients are free to roam inside the institute. Lt. Colonel Owen Berkeley-Hill, a psychiatrist in the British Army, took charge of this institute in 1919 as its first medical superintendent. It had a bed capacity for 174 patients at that time. Over the years, the bed capacity increased to the current strength of 643 beds for inpatient care spread over an area of 211 acres with various facilities and establishments named after eminent Indian and European Psychiatrists. 

The department is actively involved in clinical work, teaching and research activities. The usual working hours of the department are 8.30 a.m to 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday with a one-hour lunch break from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Facilities available include comprehensive inpatient treatment. Indoor services include treatment of patients' physical and mental health. Regular assessment of patients condition is done by an efficient interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers and nursing personnel trained to cater to mentally ill patients. Pharmacological management of the patient is done with modern treatment methods using newer antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers and anti-epileptic drugs. Facility for modified electroconvulsive therapy is available both on inpatient and outpatient basis. Pertinent psychological tests and interventions are used as part of the biopsychosocial approach in patient care. Blood and other investigations are done free of cost for admitted patients. Case records are maintained and preserved for patients detailed information which is available on the central server of the Institute. The Junior Residents undertake the detailed history and examination of admitted patients and the case is discussed with the Senior Resident during evening rounds daily. During ward rounds, the management plan for treatment is discussed with Consultants. Instructions for nursing staff, including the medicines prescribed, are put down in writing in Instruction Book. This is kept with the staff nurse on duty. 

The patient once admitted comes under the total care of the Junior Resident to whom the allotment of the case is made. He/she is responsible for the management and care of the patient under the supervision of Senior Resident and Consultant. The department has outpatient services for mentally ill persons from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except on holidays). Special clinics are run on specific days to cater to the specific needs of particular illnesses. Academic activities include regular management and academic rounds, teaching programs, lectures and ward case discussions. The department is also involved in imparting training of professionals and non-professionals in the field of Mental Health (awareness to research level), services to both community-oriented and community-centered services and developing health education materials for both professionals and non-professionals in the field of Mental Health.

The training programs are carried out at the Unit level, Department level and also interdepartmental level. Training is not only imparted to post-graduate trainees of other departments of the Institute, but also to trainees from other medical colleges and institutes. Various research studies are being conducted in the Institute by the mental health professionals in liaison with the other departments. Some of the faculty members are on the editorial board of various Journals and are University examiners. Senior faculty members have been nominated as inspectors by Medical Council of India.