Psychologists & Psychiatrists Are Not The Same! 5 Differences You Didn’t Know About
There are times when things get tough for us, and we turn to someone with whom we can talk about our issues and find solutions. When things get out of hand, we turn to our friends and family for support; however, when things get out of hand, many people seek professional help.
When looking for such professionals, we may come across a variety of names and job titles, such as Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Counsellor, and Psychotherapist.
These are names you’ve probably heard a lot but aren’t entirely sure what they mean. The most common misunderstanding is between Psychiatrists and Psychologists, who are often used interchangeably but perform very different tasks.
Both professions are important in the field of mental health and behaviour, but they are not identical. So, if you’re interested in pursuing a career in this field or simply want to learn more about the world around you, you should be aware of who they are and how they differ.
I’ll go over all of the key differences with you. Let’s take a look at it.
Psychologists and Psychiatrists – Who are They?
Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour, to put it another way. Psychologists are people who study how people think, behave, and feel in different social situations. They know everything there is to know about human behaviour.
Psychiatry, on the other hand, is a medical specialty that focuses on the treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbances, and abnormal behaviour. Psychiatrists diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe medications based on biological, neurological, and biochemical abnormalities.
Psychology and psychiatry are both important fields for researching and developing treatments to improve people’s mental and emotional health. Both have the same goal in mind: to help people live more functional and healthy lives.Psychology and psychiatry are both important fields for researching and developing treatments to improve people’s mental and emotional health. Both have the same goal in mind: to help people live more functional and healthy lives.
Differences Between Psychiatrists and Psychologists
The two have significant differences in a variety of areas, including their approaches, areas of work, and educational paths. They are not one and the same thing, contrary to popular belief. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, as I previously stated. While psychologists specialise in treating mental illnesses, they are not limited to it.
Here are some of the ways they differ:
1. Psychiatrists treat mental issues through medications; Psychologists treat them with therapies
The biggest difference between the two is in the approach they take towards treating mental disorders.
In their treatment, a Psychiatrist prioritises medication. They develop a treatment course plan for the patient after the diagnosis is made, focusing on symptom management through the use of medications and psychotherapy. While Psychologists may be trained in psychotherapies such as psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioural therapy, and others, the work of therapies is generally handled by Psychologists in a typical mental health care setting.
Psychologists use a variety of therapies to help their patients manage their symptoms and cope with their life problems. They might use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), Gestalt Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and other therapies. They can also perform psychometric tests, which assess a person’s mental state and personal characteristics in order to determine the best course of action for the patient.
For example, if a person is depressed and has recently attempted suicide, a Psychiatrist will first prescribe antidepressant medications to control the suicidal tendencies and encourage the person to talk and seek treatment. Following stabilisation, the psychologist would begin therapy to determine the root of the person’s problems and assist them in managing their negative thoughts and emotions.
As a result, psychologists and psychiatrists collaborate to help patients in a variety of mental health settings.
2. Psychiatrists primarily deal with mental disorders. For Psychologists, it is just one branch
Medical doctors, psychiatrists work primarily in healthcare settings such as hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practise. They specialise in mental health within the realm of medicine, and their work is solely focused on that. Psychiatrists can specialise in areas like forensic psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, clinical neurophysiology, pain management, sleep medicine, and brain injury medicine, among others.
However, because psychology is the study of the human mind and behaviour, it can be applied to almost any field, including mental health. Clinical psychology, counselling psychology, child psychology, sports psychology, cognitive psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, forensic psychology, educational psychology, and other sub-fields of psychology are all covered by the term “psychologist.” Graduates of psychology can specialise in any of these areas, depending on their interests. As a result, psychologists don’t always deal with mental illnesses.
3. Psychiatrists can prescribe medicine, Psychologists can not
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have the legal authority to prescribe medications to patients. Even though therapy can help, many disorders such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and others respond well to medications and are primarily treated with them.
Psychologists, on the other hand, are unable to prescribe such medications. They use psychological tests to diagnose patients and then use therapy to treat them. Psychologists refer patients to Psychiatrists in severe cases where medication may be helpful.
4. Psychiatry requires a degree in Medicine. Psychology requires a UG & PG degree in Psychology
A Psychiatrist is a physician with a medical degree in Psychiatry. To be a Psychiatrist you will first have to complete your MBBS, followed by an M.D. in Psychiatry. Thus, a total of 7.5 years of study (5.5 years of MBBS + 2 years of M.D.) are required.
To build a career as a Psychologist, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology followed by a Master’s degree in Psychology. To practice as a Clinical Psychologist (treating mental disorders), you require an additional 2 years of study to obtain an M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology. A total of 5 to 7 years of study (3 years of B.A. + 2 years of M.A. + 2 years if you go for an M.Phil.) are required.
5. Psychiatrists deal with complex psychological conditions; Psychologists deal more with behavioural and developmental issues
Psychiatrists are trained to help people with severe depression, psychotic behaviour, severe anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and other complex medical and psychological conditions.
People with conditions that can be effectively treated/managed with psychological treatments, such as behavioural problems, adjustment issues, learning difficulties, mild depression, and anxiety, are more likely to see psychologists.
So there you have it: Psychiatrists and Psychologists have a lot of differences! I hope this information will assist you in deciding on a career path that is right for you. Mental health is a wonderful and rewarding field, but it also necessitates resiliency, empathy, and emotional stability. If you want to pursue a career in this field, you should assess yourself in these areas and take a career assessment to make the best decision possible.
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