Psychologists Vs. Psychiatrist – What’s the Dissimilarity?
Do both these professions sound identical to you too? However, psychologists and psychiatrists differ in many ways. For example their education, techniques used by them to treat patients, knowledge to prescribe a medicine or not, etc. Now let's know more regarding the dissimilarity of these professions.
Qualifications and Training
Psychiatrists are doctors by specialty with a minimum practice period of 11 years. Their practice period can extend as per their capability to treat a patient. While Psychologist is somebody who practices for 6 years or more. One should complete their master's or Ph.D. in Psychology to be able to treat patients. Several Universities offer this course. Some psychologists are called doctors because of their doctrine and not because of their medical schooling. A psychologist must have special training in order to identify and treat the Mental Disorders of a patient.
A doctor who wishes to be a psychiatrist requires particular years of training as a regular medical practitioner. Then that person needs to undergo a specific 5 years of training to be capable of identifying and treating a patient's mental disorders.
Treatments
Medical schooling of Psychiatrists allows them to prescribe certain medicines to the patient, related to their sickness. They can perform a physical health check-up of the patient, can give Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), plus other relevant therapies. A Psychologist concentrates on therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-based therapy, etc.
Conditions
Treatments provided by Psychologists are very restricted as they cannot prescribe medicine. They can only make use of different psychological therapies for treating anxiety, less severe depression, addiction issues, eating problems, etc.
Patients with a higher degree of severeness are directed towards a Psychiatrist as they can prescribe them a medicine. They treat illnesses like split personality disorder, Bipolar nature, Schizophrenia, and severe depression. In such cases therapies are not enough, proper medicines are required to stop occurring of suicidal thoughts or any other harmful thoughts. Sometimes there is a requirement to examining the physical health of the patient as medicines can have harsh effects on the body. These side effects require special attention too.
Similarities
The likeness of both professions is that both can Treat Mental Disorders. A patient, if having severe mental issues can first see a Psychiatrist, and when the severity level decreases can see a Psychologist for further help. Vice versa can also be done. Both professionals have a vast knowledge of mental disorders and work in sync for the betterment of the patient.
To end on a lighter note we can say that a Psychiatrist is a person with regular medical schooling and specific training to treat mental disorders. While a psychologist is a person who has special training to treat less severe mental disorders.
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