Do i need a psychiatrist or a psychologist?

Question

My wife is hearing voices and is on risperidone. She is also an alcoholic. I want to get some professional help but im not sure which profession I need. Can you educate me please

Answer 1

She needs a psychiatrist. She needs urgent help if she is currently hearing voices.

Answer 2

You need a psychiatrist, they are a medical doctor of the mind. These are very hard to get on the NHS. The voices may be as a direct result of the alcoholism, for more info on Alcoholism have a look at alcoholics anonymous, I think NHS direct has stuff on the web site.

Read the patient information leaflet for the risperidone, or look it up on-line hearing voices may be one of the side effects, again the doctor would need to know about this even if it is not.

Before you go the psychiatrist route, have a chat with your Doctor, most treatment has to be voluntary and as such your wife would have to agree to it. In extreme cases you can ask for sectioning under the mental health act but in cases of alcoholism this can be incredibly difficult.

Do some research on line as well, this can really help in planning what to do.

This is a testing time for you and you need to prepare yourself for it, it is going to be very hard on you, Alcoholics Anonymous have a section for the people who live with alcoholics, someone to talk to about it from your perspective can be a great support.

When things get really bad there is always the Samaritans, just a chance to have someone listen is fantastic.

Good luck

Answer 3

Risperidone is an extremely heavy duty medication, which can have some nasty physical side effects - it can change the way a person moves and talks, and that can be a permanent side effect, persisting even when the resperidone is finished. I would talk to your GP and express doubts about this medication, and look for alternatives.
A psychiatrist will focus on medication, a psychologist will focus more on counselling - some people will attend both. In your wife's case, I would try to get in touch with a service dedicated to the treatment of alcoholism, they will tend to focus far less on medication, and more on developing personal resources to deal with the addiction. It may not be suitable for your wife, depending on her condition at the moment, but you should look into it.
If she's got an underlying psychiatric condition that's causing her to hear voices, then she will need to be medicated, but read up on the medications suggested before starting them, and try to agree on one that will do the trick without generating a whole new set of problems.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Keep in mind I'm no one qualified.
That said.......
A psychiatrist might be better in addiction. But ever psychiatrist and psychologist "doctor" is a person. And some haven't really made much progress in the way of behavioral manipulation. You could quote Aristotle and be up to date. Spirits and free wills.

Get a addiction specialist. I would suggest one with a behavioral perspective if you want empirical results but you could sit and talk about your childhood for months with a psycho analysis and might get result too. You won't know of course because there's no data. Get her out of any chaotic environment she might be in. When I was "crazy" I went to a behavioral hospital for a week and my "behavior" changed but also I felt more alive then I had in my whole life.
Do not go through a medical hospital unless you want to pay 3,000 dollars. Ask to go directly to a inpatient facility.
Money money money....

Alcoholics Anonymous is laughable. Don't waste your time there. Since you are a major reinforcer for her you do have a lot of push and pull on her behavior. If you wanted to go back with her after treatment you would need to be a part of treatment. Thats my guess because you would act as a antecedent for her drinking, you her home, ect. I smoke when I am around certain friends, my smoking area in the back yard ect. All of it would have to have new consequences.

Good luck changing her behavior or mind....

You can have spirits or results its up to you.

Answer 5

A psychiatrist is your best option because of the fact that prior to becoming a psychiatrist they have to be qualified as a doctor so you get the best of both worlds. Psychiatrists are also able to prescribe med's that might be needed. On the other hand a psychologist is not qualified as a doctor but has a completed course in psychology which is mainly used to resolve matters concerning depression and social issues. I would therefore strongly recommend a psychiatrist.

Answer 6

You need a psychiatrist. Psychologists aren't actually Medical Doctors, and cannot prescribe medicine.
The alcoholism will make any problems worse though, and most heavy duty psychoactive medicines will not work predictably with alcohol.
The problem with people who hear voices is they like to quit taking the medicine when the voices stop and then you're back where you started.
You will need the patience of a saint to sort this out, I wish you well.

Answer 7

ur missus needs to stop drinking or at least bring it under control which is hard for any alcoholic to do.if she has a cpn or case worker get in touch with them and let them know that the voices are back or worse .does ur missus like the voices ? either way riperidone is not very effective in the long term she would benefit from a full assessment and a change of meds as well as some coping strategies to deal with the voices .In my experience clozaril has a good trax record for helping with voices and psychotic thoughts.as to ur question a psychiatrist is the best option and later a osychologist to help her with alcohol and coping with being a voice hearer.good luck and all the best .

Answer 8

Definite a psychiatrist, what are the voices saying destructive or positive things? This is an anti-psychotic drug that your wife is on. The mental health and GPs cannot directly threat this problem, they will simply give medication sadly. I would suggest a really good hypnotist who can find out what is happening in her sun-conscience. I have worked in mental health services for ten years, there is no magic wand solution, i am sorry to say! However I will add you are not alone.

Answer 9

A psychologist is a doctor of psychology while a psychiatrist is more of a formal practitioner. You have to go to a psychiatrist first and they refer you to a psychologist. If your wife has already seen a doctor in order to get the prescription she should already be refered. If that's not the case then you will have to see a psychiatrist first.

Answer 10

I think a psychiatrist would be best. But I'm not sure.

Psychiatry is a medical specialty dealing with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental illness. Its primary goal is the relief of mental suffering associated with disorder and improvement of mental well-being.

A psychologist is a scientist and/or clinician who studies psychology, the systematic investigation of the human mind, including behavior and cognition. Psychologists are usually categorized under a number of different fields, the most well-recognized being clinical psychologists, who provide mental health care, and research psychologists, who collect information on people's minds.

Answer 11

Psychiatrist is the one you need to see as they are the ones who prescribe and understand meds. I had a family member who took resperidone and I know enough to know she shouldn't be drinking on that. Maybe your wife would do better on Lithium.

Word of important advice.... If at all possibly avoidable... Do not let your wife go into a mental institution. They may seem like a good idea, but in all reality alot of abuse happens in those hospitals and facilities. Good luck...