What is the difference beween a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

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 a doctor first (goes to medical school), and then specializes in psychiatry. Some psychiatrists can even do brain surgery. Because psychiatrists are medical doctors, they can prescribe medications.

A psychologist goes to college, and usually gets a masters and a PhD in order to practice. He or she is not a medical doctor--though the psychological studies do go into a lot of medical facts. A psychologist cannot prescribe medications.

Answer 3

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who has completed medical school and a 3-4 year residency in psychiatry. They are able to officially diagnose for the purposes of insurance and may write prescriptions.

A Psychologist is a trained professional who usually has a PhD in Psychology. There forte is therapeutic interventions such as family therapy, play therapy with children, marriage counseling and private therapy. They do not attend medical school and are not able to write prescriptions.

Answer 4

A psychologist has a doctorate in psychology (and usually has a 4 year undergraduate degree in psychology first).There are many different branches of psychology to have a doctorate in (eg. developmental, neuro., social, cognitive, clinical, etc.) A clinical psychologist can give IQ and such kinds of testing, but cannot perscribe drugs.

A psychiatrist is a MD who had had extra training to work with mental health issues. Psychitrists need not have a 4 year undergraduate degree in psychology.

Answer 5

A psychologist works with behaviorial issues only. A psychiatrist does the same, but they are authorized to run tests and prescribe medications which psychologists cannot do.

Answer 6

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, therefore able to prescribe drugs, order lab tests, etc. A psychologist is a therapist who has at least a Master's degree in psychology.

Answer 7

Psychologist refers to anyone with an advanced degree in clinical psychology, counseling, industrial psychology, educational psychology, or one of several other subfields, and who makes professional contributions based upon that training, be it as a therapist, counselor, researcher, teacher, or consultant.


A Psychiatrist is a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Their primary goal is the relief of mental suffering associated with disorder and improvement of mental well-being. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and are certified in treating mental illness using the biomedical approach to mental disorders including the use of medications. Psychiatrists may also go through significant training to conduct psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and/or cognitive behavioral therapy, but it is their medical training that differentiates them from clinical psychologists and other psychotherapists.

Answer 8

A psychologist talks. A psychiatrist talks and gives you drugs.

Answer 9

a psychiatrist is a medical doctor that can write prescriptions and a pyschologist only has a masters or maybe a PhD (doctorate of philosopy) that doesn't allow them to write prescriptions...also the pay it a lot better for a psychiatrist...they get like $60-$80 an hr...not bad for a day's work of listening to ppl's problems.

Answer 10

Psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor, physician, a psychologist can be a PhD but is not a medical doctor.