With a gradual destigmatisation of mental health, many people are coming forth and seeking help. Although coming forward and speaking about your condition is itself a difficult task, it generally comprises the first step. However, the most crucial is to seek help, not from your friends and family, but from a trained mental health expert. When you think of a mental health expert, psychiatrist and psychologist are the two terms that might come to your mind. Although both concern mental health, they provide distinct services. However, many do not know the underlying differences between the two and use the terms interchangeably. But, to seek the right help, you need to consult the right mental health expert. Although there are many specialisations when it comes to mental health, psychiatry and psychology are generally the most sought after. Hence, what might help is knowing the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, which in turn can help you to make the right choice when it comes to seeking help for a mental health issue. So, let us look at them one by one.
Who Is A Psychiatrist?
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Here is who a psychiatrist is:
- A psychiatrist is a doctor who can prescribe medicines. In other words, a psychiatrist is the one who primarily treats mental health illnesses with medicines. However, he/she can also provide psychotherapy.
- He/she examines a person’s biological, neurological and other issues. Once the diagnosis is done, medicines are prescribed to treat the ailment.
- Often in cases of abnormal behaviour and emotional disturbance, a psychiatrist also refers the patient to a psychologist who can further help the patient with psychotherapy.
- Psychiatry is very much helpful in serious conditions such as depression, severe anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic behaviour, etc.
- A psychiatrist holds an MBBS degree, along with either a Diploma in Psychological Medicine (DPM) or MD (Psychiatry).
Who Is A Psychologist?
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Here is who a psychologist is:
- A psychologist isn’t a doctor.
- Generally, he/she cannot prescribe medicines.
- A psychologist instead provides psychotherapy, commonly understood as therapy or counselling.
- A psychologist can be understood as an expert in human behaviour. They deal with how people think, feel and behave.
- Hence, they can help people deal with issues such as behavioural problems, learning troubles, problems adjusting in a family or office. They can also help a person cope with mild depression and anxiety, conditions that might not need medication. They do it by providing psychotherapy.
- In psychotherapy, they sit with the patient and identify his/her issues that are causing the trouble. However, a psychologist cannot prescribe medicines.
- Since they are not doctors, they don’t hold an MBBS degree. To become a psychologist, a person first gets a degree in psychology. This is followed by a Master’s course. After that, they either get an MPhil degree in Clinical Psychology or a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)
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Hence, you can deduce that if you are facing behavioural troubles, finding it difficult to fit in, or are having symptoms of mild depression or anxiety, a psychologist is an expert you need to go to. However, in case of serious mental health issues such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, issues that severely interfere with your day-to-day functioning, and you think the problem cannot be solved with therapy, then you need to consult a psychiatrist.
However, many times, a psychiatrist and a psychologist work together to provide relief to a patient. When a psychologist feels that the issue(s) might be better dealt with medicines, he/she might refer the patient to a psychiatrist. Similarly, in cases where medicines and psychotherapy are both needed, a psychiatrist might consult a psychologist too.
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