what is the difference between the two, if there is any? i want to study psychology, but later want to go on to work in psychiatrics. i was wondering if i got the qualifications on pycholgy, would i need to do new qualifications to practice in psychiatrics?
thanks,
Heather
2007-05-21 05:31:20 · 6 answers · asked by heather louise 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
also, i forgot to ask, is there a difference in what you actually study between the two? thanks
2007-05-21 05:44:50 · update #1
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO), holds a medical degree, and prescribes medication. They attend medical school and later specialize in psychiatry. 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 attend graduate school, but not medical school. 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.
2007-05-21 05:56:21 · answer #1 · answered by psychgrad 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A psychiatrist is an MD and dispenses medications, but psychiatrist do not focus on therapy at all.....My psych professor once told me psychiatrists are just pill pushers.....Whereas Psychologists focus solely on therapy and they only need a PHD........To me a true psychiatrist should be both.....That is the direction that I am taking because you cant truely take care of a patient with medications until you know all the confounds on why they have the mental illness.....To truely be able to treat and cure someone of a mental illness you need first to treat the environmental reasons and then the medical reasons....I hope this helps....
2007-05-21 12:56:06 · answer #2 · answered by janet u 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's been a while since I looked in to it.. but I believe for psychiatry you need some level of formal medical training.. so yes, you would have to go back to school to make the switch from psychology to psychiatry.
2007-05-21 12:40:37 · answer #3 · answered by pip 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Psychiatry requires an MD whearas psychology, a Ph.D.
2007-05-21 12:44:21 · answer #4 · answered by MrOrph 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A psychiatrist is an MD. They are able to dispense drugs, while a psychologist may not dispense drugs. Both are qualified for therapy.
Any college or university will be happy to give you a catalog or you may be able to go on line and check out the respective curriculum's.
2007-05-21 12:42:35 · answer #5 · answered by surffsav 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The way I see it, psychologists are the people who would exclusively work out their patients' problems through therapy while psychiatrists would take it one step further to also prescribe medications. They (psychiatrists) would have to go to medical school. I think psychiatrists also get paid more money. In some states now they are allowing psychologists to prescribe medications.
2007-05-21 14:50:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋