The need to differentiate and have the psychiatrist vs. psychologist comparison did not start today. On a flash of thought, it looks like these occupations are the same.
With emphasis placed on mental health or the brain, the psychiatrist and the psychologist holds a huge candle that keeps the mental health path bright and burning.
However, their entwined activities end at some point, and they go on to perform separate yet vital duties for the human brain.
Our mental health as humans could be tampered with in many ways, which may result in different diagnoses. Since various mental ailments abound, people need clarification about the specialist to talk to; the psychiatrist or the psychologist.
For this reason, we’ve compared the psychiatrist vs. the psychologist and their mode of treatment to give us a more precise understanding.
Who is a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical school-trained doctor who studies psychiatry. Now, psychiatry is a branch of medicine that studies mental capacity and everything that affects it.
So, a psychiatrist diagnoses, prescribe and treat mental illness of different types.
Before you genuinely qualify to treat people, you must graduate from medical school, write the appropriate exam for your license, and pass. This process may seem quite lengthy and consume your time, but after you’ve done all, it will be worth your stress and time.
Furthermore, while still in school, you will decide which part of psychiatry best suits your interests and life.
What is a psychiatrist’s job description?
Psychiatrists receive professional training both in class and in the practical aspect during the clinical rounds in a hospital.
As a professional, a psychiatrist carries out lab tests and evaluates mental health patients psychologically. After this, they make a diagnosis and describe the actual mental illness that plagues their patients.
Types of mental illness already known to human
Many mental illnesses affect the human brain, and only a psychiatrist has the legal and medical right to diagnose. Some of these mental illnesses are on the spectrum, which means that they have mild to severe cases. Though not comprehensive but the most prevalent mental illness includes.
- Anorexia
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Anxiety disorder
- Attention deficit
- Autism
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Clinical depression
- Dementia
- Disruptive behavior
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Paranoid personality disorder
- Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD)
- Psychotic disorder
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorder
Types of psychiatrists
Numerous people with a separate mental health need seek help, relief, and succor daily at the hands of these professionals.
However, as unique as their beings are, so are their mental issues. Psychiatrists all have their specialties and use their knowledge to treat mental illness and provide healing. Some types of psychiatrists are
- Forensic psychiatrist
- Social psychiatrist
- Biological psychiatrist
- Geriatric psychiatrist
- Child and adolescent psychiatrist
- Addiction psychiatrist
- Liaison psychiatry
- Adult Psychiatrist
Who is a psychologist?
Psychologists are trained professionals in mental health. Though they do not doctor pe sey, they understand the delicate nature of human mental beings and how to guide them to health or prevent it from falling apart.
Also, psychologists do not diagnose as psychiatrists do, but they can evaluate a patient’s thought process and understand what is mentally broken.
Psychologists are like guides who help their patients discover where they got it all wrong and try to retrace. They do this by listening, understanding, talking, researching, managing, and giving necessary treatment.
Type of Psychologists
Psychology has many aspects of mental health that it covers. People who decide on this career path can easily select a specialty and help their patients in those areas to thrive and regain mental wholesomeness no matter how long it takes. These specialties include.
- Health psychologist
- Forensic psychologist
- Neuropsychologists
- Clinical psychologists
- Developmental psychologist
- Sports psychologists
- Behavioral psychologist
- Educational psychologists
- Military psychologist
- Cognitive psychologist
- Personality psychologist
- Industrial-organizational psychologist
- School psychologist
- Community psychologist
- Cross-cultural psychologist
Psychiatrist vs. psychologist workplace
Ever wondered how and where these professionals work? Firstly, their jobs can not be fully separated as they run into each other naturally.
So, a psychiatrist is a trained medical doctor who treats mental ailments and works in a hospital or a mental clinic.
Meanwhile, a psychologist can work in schools, clinics, private practice, mental homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, health centers, prisons, and more places.
Aside from counseling, psychologists also treat their patients through therapy. In recent times, psychologists have been moving into the teaching zone.
In essence, both professionals have various workplaces to choose from. This job is not limiting in any way, and you can make an outstanding career out of either of them.
Psychiatrist vs. psychologist salary
Inasmuch as these jobs are noble and meant for only professionals, salaries are one massive part of this profession.
By the way, the salaries differ significantly from each other, seeing that one is a medical doctor and doctors make more.
However, psychiatrists‘ or psychologists’ salaries can be influenced by their workplace, position held, workplace location, how they work, and other factors. Most workers are paid hourly, which can finally be totaled for the annual rate.
Still speaking of salaries and salary rates, a professional with lots of experience under their belt will earn much more than new graduates in the field.
According to research, psychiatrists earn at least $220,430, while the average psychologist earns $98,230 yearly. When you break down the salaries to per hour, psychiatrists make $105.98 per hour, and $47.23 per hour for the psychologist.
Entry-level psychiatrists earn about $74,530 as a salary, while entry-level psychologists earn at least $46,000.
So when you place the psychiatrist job vs. the psychologist job side by side, you’d discover that they are not so similar just by looking at their salary gap and that psychiatrists earn more.
That notwithstanding, both professions present excellent career opportunities for learning, growth, successful life, and fulfillment.
What type of psychiatrist earn more salary?
Usually, the psychiatric field is a world filled with different compartments. So, a psychiatrist can focus or specialize in one compartment, which in turn affects the amount of salary they earn.
Psychiatrists who earn more salary than their colleagues include;
- Clinical psychiatrists
- Adult psychiatrists
- Psychiatric counselors
- Geriatric psychiatrist
Type of psychologists who earn more
Some psychologists earn more than their colleagues because they specialize in some sensitive areas of psychology. Some of these high-earning psychologists include.
- Forensic psychologist
- Military psychologist
- Educational psychologist
- Industrial-organizational psychologist
- Clinical psychologist
Conclusion about Psychiatrist vs Psychologist
Mental health and its treatment lie firmly on the psychiatrist and psychologist’s knowledge and expertise.
While the psychiatrist diagnoses the illness and prescribes drugs and treatment, the psychologist holds the patient by the hands and leads them to heal through many sessions of therapy and counseling.
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.