Glad that you are reading this blog. In the part 1 & Part 2 of this 3 part blog series, we touched upon various differences between a psychiatrist and psychologist in terms of their qualification, specialization, disgnostic methods etc. In this blog, we are going to see the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist in terms of
Treatment Duration
Focus of Treatment
Collaboration with Other Health Professionals
Disclaimer : The purpose of this blog is to help the common man in getting the difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist. Medicine being a huge domain, there might be minor differences in certain aspects depending on the geography, context etc.
Treatment Duration: (Psychiatrists Vs Psychologists)
Psychiatrists:
With respect to psychiatrists, the appointments are shorter and more frequent. A typical review appointment with a psychiatrist doesn’t exceed 20-30 minutes unless there is an exception. The frequency of visits can be weekly / bi-monthly / monthly / quarterly depending on the context. The major focus of the session is to gauge the effectiveness of the medicine and do the adjustments that are necessary.
Psychologists:
When it comes to psychologists the appointment duration is longer. A typical psychotherapy session lasts for 45-60 minutes and more frequent sessions might be required especially at the start of the treatment. The process of therapeutic treatment can go on for several months or years based on the nature of the disorders.
Focus of Treatment (Psychologists Vs Psychiatrists)
Psychiatrists:
For psychiatrists, the focus is predominantly on the biological and the neurological aspects of the mental disorders. Treatment plans are focussed on medical intervention to manage the symptoms effectively and sustainably. In certain cases when the medication is not effective, the psychologists may prefer other forms of treatments including ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy), TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) etc. However, the usage of these treatment methodologies varies from geography to geography depending on the cultural acceptance as well.
Psychologists:
In the case of psychologists, the treatment is focussed on understanding the behavioral issues, thought patterns, emotional undercurrent etc. Their treatment comprises CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Psychodynamic therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy etc. As in the case of psychiatrists, the treatment methodologies vary depending on the geography and cultural acceptance. The primary focus is to help the patients observe and regulate their emotions through self awareness.
Collaboration with Other Health Professionals ( Psychoatrist Vs Psychologist)
Psychiatrists:
They work closely with other health professionals like primary care physicians, psychologists, neurologists etc. This extensive collaboration becomes necessary when the mental health condition is linked to or affects the physical domain as well.
Psychologists:
They work closely with mental health professionals including social workers, counselors, marriage / family therapists etc. They may also work with educators to help children handle learning disabilities. They focus more into the behavioral and the emotional aspects of the patients.
I hope that understanding the key differences between psychiatrists and psychologists have given you a better understanding of the options available in the mental health space. Most of the best Mental Health Centres / Mental hospitals offer a comprehensive care plan consisting of interventions from both psychiatrists and psychologists. So, if you are trying to find out the best mental health center for your near and dear ones, look for mental health centers which has a good number of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, so that you get access to holistic treatment.
