What’s the difference between a
Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?
What is it?
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health, including substance use disorders.
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. A psychologist is involved in studying and understanding mental processes, brain functions, and behavior.
Education
A psychiatrist must have completed medical school and 4 additional years of residency with special training in psychiatry.
A psychologist usually has an advanced degree and often has extensive training in research or clinical practice.
Scope of work
Psychiatrists are able to conduct psychotherapy and prescribe medications and other medical treatments and are qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems.
Psychologists treat mental disorders with psychotherapy and some specialize in psychological testing and evaluation.
Psychiatrists and Psychologists often work together as part of a mental health team. The psychologist will typically offer behavioral interventions and the psychiatrist typically provides/adjusts medication in order to best address the patient's symptoms. The type of approach needed often depends on the severity of the symptoms and the needs and wishes of the patient.
It is important to determine the type of services an individual needs when determining if a psychologist, psychiatrist, or both are needed to improve one’s mental health.