Difference Between Psychologist and Psychiatrist

Even though psychology and psychiatry are courses that deal with the behaviour of human mind, as professions, these two are very different. We at NNE, have tried to bring out the difference between the two.

Psychology

Psychology is the study of mental process and a person’s behaviour. A professional practitioner, who practices psychology is known as a psychologist. Psychologists study things like reactions, emotions and behaviour of a person. Today, psychology is becoming one of the most sought after professions.

As a Profession

As a profession, it is the application of the understanding of a person’s behaviour to help solve human problems. Psychology deals with behaviour of a person and, so, psychologists can apply their findings and knowledge to a lot of services that include human behaviours and human involvement like, sports, management and law.

A Clinical Psychologist can be hired in hospitals or as counsellors. School psychologists take care of behavioral problems of children in schools. Industrial psychologists can use their knowledge in an organisation to motivate employees and a social psychologist examines individuals and trends of a society.

How do they work?

Psychologists note their findings through a lot of ways like laboratory experiments, interacting with people, observing people’s behaviour in a certain situation, aptitude and intelligence tests and finding trends in surveys. Psychologists can even specialize in a field of their choice.

Areas of Specialization

• Clinical psychology
• Criminal psychology
• Sports psychology
• Business psychology
• Forensic psychology

Courses offered at the undergraduate level and eligibility

You can pursue undergraduate courses like B.A (H) in Psychology. You need to have a HSC (or equivalent) degree.

Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders—which include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual disorders.

As a profession

A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in psychiatry and is certified in treating mental disorders. Since a psychiatrist is a qualified doctor, he can prescribe medicine, use techniques like interpersonal relationship (psychotherapy) and a wide range of other techniques to cure the illness.
 
How do they work?

Psychiatrists are trained in psychotherapy, techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure and function of the brain (neuroimaging) and other such techniques. A typical case starts with mental status examination and compilation of a case history. Psychological tests may be conducted on the patients as and when needed.

Specializations

The field of psychiatry itself can be divided into various subspecialties. These include:

• Addiction psychiatry
• Adult Psychiatry
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Consultation-liaison psychiatry
• Cross-cultural psychiatry
• Emergency psychiatry
• Forensic psychiatry
• Learning disability
• Neurodevelopmental disabilities
• Neuropsychiatry
• Psychosomatic medicine

Courses at the Undergraduate level and Eligibility

To pursue psychiatry, you need to pursue MBBS, and then specialize in psychiatry. You can then super specialize in any of the above mentioned fields. There is no course offered at the undergraduate level.

Subjects needed at the HSC level are: Physics, Chemistry, Biology.

Psychology	Psychiatry
Study of mental behaviour of a person	Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders
You can pursue an undergraduate course like B.A Psychology	You can not pursue it at the undergraduate level. You need to first complete MBBS and then take it up as a specialization.
Must have an HSC or equivalent certificate.	Must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology at the HSC level.
Can not prescribe medicines	Can prescribe medicines
Can specialize in fields like Clinical psychology, Criminal psychology, Sports psychology, Business psychology and Forensic psychology.	Can specialize in fields like Addiction psychiatry, Adult psychiatry Child and adolescent psychiatry, Consultation-liaison psychiatry and Cross-cultural psychiatry.