Compare And Contrast Psychology Vs Psychiatry

PsyD vs MD

Most people go their entire lives without knowing that psychology and psychiatry are two different professional fields. Although they sound very similar, there are some defining characteristics that separate the two. Both professions treat patients with illnesses ranging from anxiety to schizophrenia. The most obvious difference between the two is their credentials. Psychologists are Doctors of Psychology (PsyD); psychiatrists, on the other hand, are Doctors of Medicine (MD). The names of the careers alone can show that difference. Psychology has the suffix “ology”, which means “study of the psyche”. Psychiatry, with the suffix “iatry”, means “medical treatment of the psyche.” On average, psychologists are in school for a total of twenty-three years. They go through the
traditional twelve years of lower education, four years of higher education, and about six more years of graduate level education. Upon the completion of their graduate level studies, they are given a doctorate degree. A doctorate degree is not the same as a medical degree. Doctorate degrees signify that the person with said degree is a master of their field; it is the highest degree that can be obtained in any academic field. Although psychologists are not medical doctors, they can still perform various tests to diagnose their patients.
The most common tests psychologists perform are personality and neuropsychological tests. Personality tests are used to dissect what is really going on in a patient’s mind. The first personality test that is still used today was developed in 1920. Personality tests are nothing more than generic questionnaires. A patient undergoing such a test would simply just sit there and honestly answer whatever question their doctor asks, but the trick is to not put much thought into the answers. Doctors prefer their patients to answer the questions posed with the first thing that comes to their mind. This response is most often the biggest indication of who the patient really is. Neuropsychological tests are a different from personality tests because they are much more specific. These tests are specifically designed to psychological function linked to a specific part of the brain. Neuropsychological tests are much more formal and can be more informative to psychologists. Although both professions conduct psychotherapy and research, psychology is less intense than
psychiatry. Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that studies and diagnoses mental and behavioral disorders. A typical psychiatrist is in school for a total of twenty-six years. After their combined sixteen years of lower and higher education, psychiatrists attend medical school for four years, and complete a residency for two. Once all of their official training is done, they can begin to diagnose patients. The difference between a psychological diagnosis and a psychiatric diagnosis is that a psychiatric one can provide a patient with medication. Being able to prescribe medications is one of the perks of being a psychiatrist. Assessing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental illnesses are also in the job description of a psychiatrist. In order to do these things, psychiatrists test their patients the same way psychologists do, but they look into other information. Things like social and biographical information and patient observations factor in to a psychiatric diagnosis. Another perk of being a psychiatrist is that they can specialize in different fields. While they are attending medical school, psychiatrists can decide to specialize in things like forensic, geriatric, child, adolescent, or addiction psychiatry. Most psychiatrists do not choose to specialize in anything; they graduate with a degree in general psychiatry. Because psychiatrists are physicians, they have a clear understanding of the difference between a physical or psychological cause of either a physical or mental illness. This understanding allows them to work in many different venues. Today, psychiatrists are found in general and psychiatric hospitals, courts and prisons, nursing homes, military settings, schools and universities, rehabilitation programs, emergency rooms, and many other places. Their flexibility also extends to their hours and even their hourly rates. Psychiatric visits can range from $70 to $130 an hour while psychologists can range from $65 to $114. Psychology and psychiatry are both very demanding professions. Most doctors in these fields tend to suffer from a lot of emotional distress because of the patients they interact with. Caring for people who have been diagnosed as “insane” is not the easiest task in the world. Not only do they have to juggle the different problems of each patient, they also have to deal with their unpredictable schedules. Psychologists and psychiatrists also have the burden of building up their clientele. Almost half of modern day psychologists/psychiatrists are self-employed, meaning they own and work out of their own practices. Despite the extensive schooling and emotional baggage that can accompany a career in either psychology or psychiatry, there are also lots of good things that come along with it. Most people in either of these fields can earn up to $170,000 a year. Psychiatrists and psychologists have the gift of being able to help those in need while making a notable living. Because of this, psychology has become one of the most popular majors in colleges/universities and the need for psychologists/psychiatrists has become less desperate.