What is the difference between a shrink and a psychiatrist

Please enable JavaScript to use this website as intended. Back to Psychiatry explained Home Psychiatry explained Psychiatrists and psychologists: what's the difference? Psychiatrists and psychologists: what's the difference? View print friendly version of this info. The three main differences between psychiatrists and psychologists are: Psychiatrists are medical doctors, psychologists are not. Psychiatrists prescribe medication, psychologists can't.

Psychiatrists diagnose illness, manage treatment and provide a range of therapies for complex and serious mental illness. Psychologists focus on providing psychotherapy talk therapy to help patients. Many people get psychiatrists and psychologists confused with each other.

To go into it in some more detail, the main differences relate to: training treatments provided conditions treated getting an appointment. Training Psychiatrists are medical doctors with at least 11 years of training — usually more. Clinical psychologists have special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Treatments provided Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the particular problem and what will work best. These include: medication general medical care, including checking your physical health and the effects of medication psychological treatments brain stimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy ECT.

Psychologists focus on providing psychological treatments. Conditions treated Psychiatrists tend to treat people who need their medical, psychological and social needs considered. These are usually people with complex conditions, for example: severe depression schizophrenia bipolar disorder.

Getting an appointment As with all medical specialists, to see a psychiatrist you need a referral from your GP family doctor. Working together Psychiatrists and psychologists often work together.

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For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Thread starter ShaggyVinny Start date Apr 30, Dear all, Can the slang word shrink be used to refer to both psychiatrists AND psychologists?