There are several differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. The psychologist can not prescribe medications, while the psychiatrist does. The psychologist has a background in his psychology career, while the psychiatrist has also studied medicine. The psychologist focuses more on the psychological functioning and behavior of the patient, while the psychiatrist has a medical perspective, such as chemical brain balance.
On many occasions we have been able to ask what differences exist between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Few people know exactly how they differ from mental health professionals and what work they do, so we usually confuse them.
Differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist
1- Its meaning
If we examine in detail the words psychology and psychiatry, the aetiology of both can give us the first clues about the differences that exist between both disciplines.
First, let's start with the word psychology, its Latin prefix"psi"derives from the word mind. If we continue analyzing this word we have its second part,"lodge"which means science or theory. Together we would get the meaning of mind science.
On the other hand, as in the first concept the word psychiatry begins with"psi", that is, mind while the meaning of"iatria"is that of healing or practice of medicine. Therefore, in a global way we could understand the meaning of this word as medicine of the mind.
2- Treatments
Psychologists focus on treating a person with mental and emotional problems in which they can intervene in their behaviors. In addition, they also focus heavily on psychotherapy.
They also perform psychological tests on patients in order to assess their mental state and know which techniques will be most appropriate to work on problems that person presents. As for example: counseling, hypnosis, psychotherapy, relaxation ...
On the other hand, psychiatrists are doctors who have specialized in the branch of psychiatry. Like the psychologist, they use psychotherapy to study and try to work the mental health problems that come to their consultation.
However, psychiatrists with medical training can prescribe medications, medical care and admit people to the hospital if they see it as necessary to begin a treatment.
3- Referral Guidelines
We can also find differences between the possible referral of a psychiatrist to a psychologist. Usually, after seeing a primary care physician or primary care, the patient can be referred to a mental health professional, the psychologist.
If he sees it as necessary for treatment, he can refer it to a psychiatrist to prescribe or supervise the medication he sees necessary for treatment. Both professionals will work together to treat the patient's symptoms from both a behavioral and a clinical point of view.
4- Training
The psychiatrist is the person who studies a medical career and later, specializes in the area of psychiatry. In this way, this professional can be understood as a doctor who can treat illnesses or emotional disorders for which prescription medication is required. That is, people who have fairly serious problems and who not only need the help of a psychologist.
On the other hand, a psychologist is a professional in the field of psychology who has a degree in this area or similar. Usually the formation of a psychologist lasts between 4 or 5 years approximately, although later it has to carry out other studies of specialization like a masters to increase its knowledge and to specialize.
Unlike psychiatrists, because they are not physicians as such, they can not prescribe medication as Anxiolytics or Antidepressants .
5- Patient care
As a result of the above differences, we can understand that psychology focuses on studying human behavior and what differentiates normal from abnormal. In addition, they take into account many causes and contributors of the emotional difficulties that a person may present at a particular moment in their life.
As for example: the environment in which you live or the situations of your life as well as your patterns of thinking, behavior and styles. On the other hand, they also take into account their personality factors, physiological functions and learning or their childhood history.
Unlike psychology, the branch of psychiatry focuses more on what mental health is concerned, so they often consider emotional problems not in the way a psychologist would understand it but as an abnormality or malfunction of the body, Such as a chemical imbalance.
6- The psychiatrist as a public professional
Another difference that exists between the two professionals is that the figure of the psychologist or services performed in some countries such as Spain, are not paid by the public health system in large part despite the benefits that patients can get from Their professional work.
On the contrary, psychiatric services are covered, although it is true that it has a significant waiting period of months or even years, depending on the people who need to be treated.
7- How to work
Psychologists receive their patients and treat them normally in sessions lasting between 45-60 minutes to study the relationship that it has with their mind and body.
It also works to give you Emotional and psychological support And even in the performance of the evaluation tests that are appropriate. Usually, the sessions are usually periodic depending on the case of each user.
Unlike the previous one, the psychiatrist generally only sees the patient for 10-15 minutes and subsequently he is usually prescribed the medication that he sees in accordance with the problem presented. Once you are prescribed the medication, you will have to go to screening sessions to see how you are doing with it.
8- Level of knowledge
As you can imagine, because to be a psychologist you have to study the degree in psychology, this professional will have broader knowledge than the psychiatrist in some subjects such as emotional, cognitive or even mental functioning of a person.
Thanks to this, they will be able to take care of the person in need of their services, facilitating strategies that can help them achieve their goals and enhance the best of themselves.
Also unlike the psychiatrist can motivate your patient and even give a positive look at your treatment as it evolves.
9- Presence of the psychologist in other areas
These can specialize in multitude of areas not just in mental health. Some examples of the presence of these professionals in other areas are: as educational psychologists in schools, in some departments of human resources of different companies...
Some of its most important similarities
If in addition to the differences we have developed previously, you are also interested in the possible similarities that exist in the work performed by these mental health professionals, here are the three most important:
10- Study object and focus of work
As we know, both the psychiatrist and the psychologist have the same area of intervention and work, mental health and Psychological well-being Of the people they treat.
11- Specialized training
Not all professionals have the quality and ability to perform the type of work that both the psychologist and the psychiatrist play. Therefore, both have the appropriate training to understand How the brain works , How he thinks and how he behaves.
On the other hand, they also know what type of counseling they should use as well as with the types of psychotherapy the patient needs depending on the case in which they are.
12- Patient well-being
One of the main objectives of both professionals is to want to help the patient to improve his / her quality of life As much as possible.
Therefore, they use various forms of therapy to improve the quality of life of those who present problems such as depression, anxiety, stress, pain, bipolar disorder...
Practical example
If after knowing the main differences and similarities between the psychologist and the psychiatrist you are not yet clear, we present a case study in which you will solve your doubts.
At present, there are many people who suffer Severe depression And need the help of a mental health professional to overcome it, in this case a psychologist.
If you simply have severe depression, this will be enough with the help of this professional, however, if in addition to this disorder you have suicidal thoughts That could end your life, you will need to take medication to relieve them and this can only be done by a psychiatrist.
In summary
Although we sometimes do not know how to distinguish the work of these two mental health professionals, it may be due to the fact that on many occasions they have to work together to solve the problem That presents a particular patient.
However, as we have seen, the work they do although similar at its basis may be totally different in practice. The psychologist in his day to day usually evaluates and to treat the problems of psychological origin taking into account its origin and the causes that can make that they continue giving with the time.
Therefore, it uses techniques and skills that help improve the patient or that simply make it able to meet the goals that have been proposed during therapy.
Also, although the psychiatrist may have some concepts and tools that can guide the care of a patient to the same direction and in the same way that a psychologist does, this is not his area of expertise or performance.
A psychiatrist focuses on assessing the physiology and chemistry of psychological problems that a person may present, thus finding the possible disorder that may suffer as well as its intervention, in a medical and pharmacological way.
References
- Cloud, J. (2010). Psychology Vs. Psychiatry: What's the Difference, and Which Is Better? Time.
- Richmond, R. L. (S / F) Psychology and Psychiatry. A Guide to Psychology and Its Practice.