Psychology studies the human mind and behavior from a scientific perspective. Psychologists are experts in learning how people’s thoughts, actions, and emotions vary depending on their social context. They have mastered the art of analyzing and understanding human nature. On the other hand, psychiatry is a medical specialty concerned with diagnosing and treating mental health disorders and emotional and behavioral abnormalities (Irvine et al. 120-131). When diagnosing and medicating mental disorders, psychiatrists consider the patient’s physical, neurological, and biochemical abnormalities. The disciplines of Psychology and Psychiatry are crucial when it comes to studying and treating people’s mental and emotional health. Both aim to facilitate individuals living whole, healthy lives.
Methodologies, fields of employment, and educational backgrounds are only a few of the ways the two diverge significantly. Although many individuals may think otherwise, they are distinct concepts. Doctors of psychiatry are medical professionals, as I have already explained. However, psychologists’ scope of practice does not limit itself to treating mental diseases. For starters, a psychiatrist will likely prescribe some medication as part of their treatment plan (Bennett-Levy, 133-145). Once a prognosis is made, a treatment plan is developed to relieve the patient’s symptoms via psychotherapy and medication. In a typical mental health care setting, Psychologists handle the job of treatments, while they may also be educated in psychotherapies such as psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and others.
In contrast, psychologists often use a variety of therapeutic approaches to assist their patients in alleviating distress and improving their ability to function in daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Rational Emotional Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Gestalt Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, etc., are all treatments that may be used(Bennett-Levy, 133-145). In addition, they have the training to administer psychometric tests, which assess a person’s personality and mental health to select the best treatment.
Further, most psychiatrists find employment in healthcare facilities or private practice due to their medical training. For them, mental health is the exclusive focus of their job within the medical field(Bennett-Levy, 133-145). A few subspecialties that psychiatrists might pursue are investigative, pediatric and adolescent psychiatry, elderly psychiatry, dependency psychiatry, therapeutic neurophysiology, medication management, sleep therapy, brain trauma medicine, etc.
However, as Psychology is the research of behavior and mental processes, it may be applied to almost any discipline, mental health included. Psychodynamic therapy, therapeutic psychology, developmental psychology, sports psychology, neuropsychology, organizational psychology, forensic psychology, and teaching are just a few specializations that fall under the Psychologist umbrella (Beaglehole et al. 716-722). A graduate in psychology who wishes to pursue one of many possible subfields may do so. This means that psychologists do not always deal with mental health issues.
Last but not least, Psychiatrists have the authority to prescribe medication since they are medical physicians. Despite the efficacy of treatment, many mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, etc., are treated predominantly with medication. It is important to note that psychologists are legally prohibited from prescribing medicine (Beaglehole et al. 716-722). Patients are diagnosed and then treated via psychotherapy based on the results of these psychological evaluations. Psychologists will often consult with psychiatrists when they believe medication would be helpful in a particularly challenging instance.
Lastly, anyone who has completed medical school focusing on psychiatry is considered a psychiatrist. To practice psychiatry, you must get your MBBS and then your M.D. That is why it takes a combined seven and a half years to become a doctor: five and a half years for an MBBS and two for an M.D. (Beaglehole et al. 716-722). However, if you want to work in the field of psychology, you will need at least a Bachelor’s and preferably a Master’s degree in the field. Clinical psychologists (those who deal with mental health issues) need to complete an additional two years of graduate study to get a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Clinical Psychology. Five to seven years are needed for completion (three years for a Bachelor’s degree, two years for a Master’s degree, and an additional two if you want to pursue a Doctorate in Philosophy).
Work Cited
Beaglehole, Ben, et al. “Psychological distress and psychiatric disorder after natural disasters: systematic review and meta-analysis.” The British Journal of Psychiatry 213.6 (2018): 716–722.
Bennett-Levy, James. “Why therapists should walk the talk: The theoretical and empirical case for personal practice in therapist training and professional development.” Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry 62 (2019): 133–145.
Irvine, Annie, et al. “Are there interactional differences between telephone and face-to-face psychological therapy? A systematic review of comparative studies.” Journal of affective disorders 265 (2020): 120-131.
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