What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?!


Question: My daughter currently sees a clinical psychologist. The CAMHS service have now decided she needs to see a psychiatrist as well. Why does she need to see both, she has a pervasive development disorder so neither is going to cure her.


Answers: My daughter currently sees a clinical psychologist. The CAMHS service have now decided she needs to see a psychiatrist as well. Why does she need to see both, she has a pervasive development disorder so neither is going to cure her.

I am very sorry to hear that your daughter has a pervasive development disorder. I would advise you that the CAMHS service is usually excellent and if they are offering you both, accept it, because I am sure it will be in your daughter's best interests. The more support and help she can have, the better. Positive changes are possible and it is worth trying.

Your daughter will benefit from both because the psychiatrist is the head of the care team and will oversee her care. Psychiatrists undergo a rigorous training for 7 years and are experts in clinical diagnosis and in prescribing the most effective medication.

Psychologists training is usually not as long at this. They are not medically trained - the psychiatrist is a doctor who has specialised in mental health. The psychologist is the expert on counselling and behavioural interventions that will make a difference to your daughter's quality of life.

I think the CAMHS service should have explained this to you and suggest that you ask them more about it. You have every right to have answers to your questions. It can be very mystifying, and they should be aware of this.

I hope this helps and wish you good luck.

Psychiatrist is a medical doctor and can prescribe meds, whereas a psychologist is not (and cannot) Psychologist would provide therapy.

A psychologist works out why the problems are happening. A psychiatrist helps you deal with those problems xxx

The first cant give meds the second can because hes also a M.D.

A psychologist deals with normal people. They deal with emotional problems and stresses that concerns a normal persons mind. Whereas a psychiatrist deals with abnormal people.

one used talk therapy and the other can prescribe meds.

Psychiatrist, can prescribe medication. A psychologist, works with out it.

In the UK a Psychiatrist is a medically trained Doctor, who can diagnose and prescribe. Usually in the UK, a Psychiatrist is the best person to see for a diagnosis, they then may treat her or refer you on for some therapy. Unfortunately in the UK you have to wait so long to see a psychiatrist, that a quicker solution is a clinical psychologist, whom the psychiatrist may have referred her to anyway, in effect cutting out the middle man. The fact that she is now seeing both I would think means she will be getting the best care possible.

Psychiatrists diagnose & medicate - they are medical doctors.

Psychologists listen and provide 'talking' therapies.

A psychiatrist is someone who has qualified as a medical doctor and then continued their studies with mental/pschological study. A psychologist is someone who has studied and qualified in psychology only.

a psychologist helps with talking and trying to discover the root of the problems with sessions of communicating with the patient

a psychiatrist talk less and prescribes medication

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and he or she will seek to diagnose and treat disorders medically, i.e., with medication prescribed for the diagnosis he or she has reached.

I don't think it is a matter of curing your daughter. It is a matter of treating her as effectively as possible to improve her quality of life, and obviously someone feels medical treatment is indicated.

Ask the clinical psychologist and psychiatrist this question and get an answer that you can understand, and ask to be consulted with respect all future treatment plans for your daughter.

Good luck.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) that can prescribe medication. A psychologist has a PhD and cannot prescribe. These days, therapy is generally provided by a psychologist with a psychiatrist prescribing medication and other medical service as necessary.

Good luck!

A psychologist is a medically trained doctor. They gradated from a medical school and are doctors of medicine who specialized on Psychiatry. A Psychiatrist can admit a person to a hospital and prescribe medications The accreditation's of a psychologist are looser, most are not doctors of medicine but may have a doctorate is psychology. The accreditation's for a phychologist vary probably vary by state.





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