Whats the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Answer 1

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, holds a medical degree, and prescribes medication. His/her training is on the medical/ biological/ neurological bases of mental illness. While some may do therapy, they are not usually trained in psychotherapy.
A psychologist has a PhD or PsyD and specializes in therapy, psychological assessment, and consultation (amongst other things). To hold the title of psychologist, they are required to have a doctorate. They are trained in psychological theory and the behavioral, cognitive, social, dynamic (etc) causes of mental illness. In most states, they cannot prescribe medication. However, in some states (like New Mexico and Louisiana, I believe), psychologists can prescribe medication with additional training.

Answer 2

A psychiatrist is an MD, who can prescribe drugs in the treatment of mental disorders. A psychologist may may a masters degree, or a Ph.D, but is NOT a medical doctor.

Answer 3

A psychiatrist can prescribe meds because they are a medical doctor and a psychologist can't. That's the only real difference.

Answer 4

Psychiatrist is a doctor and can prescribe medications. A Psychologist is a counselor.

Answer 5

the major diff is that psychiatrist's are medically trained Doctors who have chosen to specialize in treating mental disorders, the only ones qualified to prescribe medication. psychologists on the other hand cannot. anyone who has a Psychology degree can call themselves a Psychologist.

Answer 6

A Psychologist is like a scientist; he studies the body, the mind, and the medicine. They study each mental illness and when there is more than one mental illness, but they are also the same he studies and experiments with the medicines that are you for each to figure out the cure. A psychiatrist is a Doctor: He is for you. Listens to your problems, decides what help you may need, if you need medicine, and which medicine you need to take.

Answer 7

Psychologist: from the time you graduate highschool to finish = 8-10 years, you are a doctor of psychology, work includes counseling, supervision of clinicians with masters degrees, and psychological testing

Psychiatrist: from the time you graduate highschool to finish = 10 or more years, you do all the same schooling as a psychologist plus a medical internship, you are a medical doctor with a specialization in psychiatry, work includes psychological evaluations and prescription of psych medications

Answer 8

A Psychiatrist has gone through 4 years of college, medical school, internship, and is a licensed doctor who can prescribe medication.

A Psychologist has gone through 4 years of college, masters and (maybe) gotten their Phd. They cannot prescribe medication and are not licenses doctors.

Answer 9

i think a psychologist is cheaper than a psychiatrist.

Answer 10

psychaiatrist and psychologist are basicly the same doctor although psychaiatrist is able to give you medication due to the fact that he has been through studies of human phisiology as well as psychology.psychologist can't give you medication.