Psychiatry is a medical subspecialty. Practitioners are medical doctors called psychiatrists. A Psychologist is a specialist in behavioral health, usually earning a PhD or PsyD.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. A psychologist is a specialist in behavioral health.
A psychiatrist specializing in mind, behavior, and neurology is a medical doctor or MD. A psychologist is a behavioral health specialist referred to as a PhD or PsyD. Only an MD can prescribe medications. Whether or not one requires a medical doctor for a behavioral health condition depends on the diagnosis, which usually begins with a primary care doctor.
The differences explained
A psychiatrist completes undergraduate study in any major, followed by four years of medical school and four years in residency for their specialty. Psychiatrists may also have two additional years in a board specialty, such as childhood psychiatry.
A psychiatrist, being a doctor, is trained to solve medical problems through prescription medicine and medical treatment. Their extensive knowledge of medications and their effects, coupled with their medical training, equips them to address mental issues from a medical perspective, instilling confidence in their ability to diagnose and treat.
Psychologists are very different in that they are not medical doctors. They are trained to apply a therapeutic approach to improving behavioral and mental health and have a wide range of conversational techniques and exercises at their disposal.
Psychologists complete undergraduate study in any major, followed by four years of graduate school in psychology. During their graduate studies, they receive extensive training in various therapeutic approaches and psychological assessment. Psychologists may also conduct research in behavioral health, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field. This rigorous training equips psychologists with the skills to provide effective therapy for a wide range of mental and behavioral health issues.
Approaches
A psychiatry referral for behavioral conditions is similar to receiving a cardiology referral for a heart condition. Depending on the condition, the psychiatrist may ask a series of questions to understand the prognosis of the primary care doctor, who has not diagnosed the patient with any particular illness.
The primary care doctor plays a crucial role in the initial assessment and may refer the patient to a psychiatrist for further evaluation. As such, the psychiatrist has to ask lots of questions and use their prescription pad to ascertain the illness. Because the psychiatrist is a medical doctor, the patient can expect to receive a prescription for their particular ailment.
A psychologist also asks a series of questions. Because prescription medicine is outside their toolkit for approaches, they rely heavily on feedback from the individual. Notice in this scenario that the afflicted person is not considered a patient because the approach to care is usually therapeutic, and one doesn’t require a medical referral for it. A counseling style of therapy is the main differentiator from psychiatry. Because it’s non-medical, it is more readily available.
“Psychiatry is a medical subspecialty; psychology is the study of behavioral health; only a psychiatrist can diagnose and write prescriptions for mental, behavioral, and neurological health.”
Counseling
Sometimes, the best resource you can find is to speak with someone about how you’re feeling and any symptoms you may have.
While having a solid network of people is invaluable, sometimes it can be challenging to discuss such personal issues with another person. The best option is to have someone to confide in who is not only trained in psychology but also doesn’t play a role in one’s life.
Psychologists often offer a different perspective that allows them to assess a situation and provide actionable steps to see things in a new light. If your psychologist discovers that depression is a symptom, then it is outside her scope of practice to medically treat a condition; a psychiatrist would be the proper next step to receive an appropriate diagnosis, followed by possible medication.
Medications
In some situations, the psychiatrist may recommend medication to help boost mood, provide energy, and help patients feel more like themselves.
In this case, the patient should be completely open about this decision beforehand. Hence, they are aware of the side effects of using prescription medication. For example, medicines for depression are not for everyone, so using these medications to mask symptoms to feel well in the meantime would not be an ideal approach.
If medication is the best decision, do so under the guidelines of a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists also work to treat patients’ feelings while they are under medical care. Therefore, both medication and counseling work hand-in-hand for treating mind, behavior, and neurology.
Final considerations
When researching whether or not to use a psychiatrist or psychologist for care, consider exercise as a form of therapy in the meantime. Exercise increases feelings of self-confidence while also releasing endorphins in the body, which can help with an overall feeling of well-being.
So, be sure to keep these two differences between psychiatry and psychology in mind. You will be the only person who can determine for yourself what the best action plan is, but it is important to look after yourself with care. Failing to understand the differences and taking action will only worsen the condition and underestimate the requirement of an action plan.