Question

What are the distinctions between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Answer 1

A psychiatrist will treat you like a doctor would. He will do an analysis and then prescribe a medicine for treatment. A psychologists will talk with you and try to help you with your problem through therapy, discussions, etc. Not just prescribe a medicine.

Answer 2

What's to understand? They treat different aspects of mental illness. An psychiatrist treats the biological part of mental illness, most commonly with drugs. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist (I say this because other types of psychologists and anyone using terms like therapist and psychotherapist are NOT QUALIFIED to do this) treats the psychological basis of mental illness. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist is a PhD in Clinical Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology who has taken that state's licensure exam and can use this legally defined term to identify themselves.

Answer 3

It may be basic, but it is definitely the answer. However, it might be useful to think of the ramifications. A psychiatrist has been trained as a physician first and has then gone into psychiatry as a speciality. Their medical training makes an impact on how they view their patients, how they conceptualize problems, diagnose, and develop treatment plans. A psychologist has basically trained in the area of behaviour (clinical psychologists study HUMAN behaviour) and are usually trained as both scientists and practitioners. They do not come from a medical perspective in how they view and ultimately work with their clients. One is not superior to the other and they can work together with good results. But their training and backgrounds differ and these differences guide their practise.

Answer 4

The psychiatrist have a patients with mental illness, while psychologist have patients who deal with normal people but who are stressed of the now day living and have personality issues that can be overcome by talking and suggestions of their psychologist.

Answer 5

Basic or not, that is the correct answer.. Both can be as equally expensive, both can talk with you in a therapy session for an hour, but only 1 can prescribe medications. That would be the psychiatrist.