The college has existed in various forms since 1841, having started as the Association of Medical Officers of Asylums and Hospitals for the Insane.

[4][5] The coat of arms incorporates the traditional serpent-entwined Rod of Asclepius symbolic of medicine, and butterflies associated with Psyche.

Previous to the grant of these arms, the Medico-Psychological Association had used a device showing the seated Psyche with butterfly's wings.

The college runs campaigns, including Choose Psychiatry, which has helped increase the fill rate of posts from 78% in 2018[8] to 100%[9] in 2020, as well as calling for parity in the funding of mental health services.

The president is elected for a three-year term and serves as head of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.