In the field of mental health, two professions often generate confusion and are used as synonyms, when they are not. They are psychiatrist and clinical psychologists, one of the branches of specialization of psychology in the field of health. And although sometimes mutual coordination between the two is required to treat certain cases, it is not always necessary.
After completing their psychology degree, these professionals have multiple career paths: neuropsychology, human resources, criminology… In this specific case, we are going to refer to clinical psychology, responsible for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological disorders.
Given the complexity of the human mind and the number of factors involved in psychological well-being, it is necessary to treat each patient appropriately. To do this, we must be able to discern which specialty is responsible for each area. Let’s see what the fundamental differences are between a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist.
Semi-shared etymology
If we carefully analyze the etymological origin of the words that make up both professions, we find clues about the work of each professional. On the one hand, the prefix “psi” comes from the Latin word “mente.” And “logía” means “theory” or “science.” Psychology can then be defined as the “science of the mind .” On the other hand, “iatría” has a Greek origin and refers to the concept of healing or medicine. Combining both affixes, psychiatry would derive from the medicine of the mind.
Psychiatrists and psychologists have different training.
Psychiatrists study medicine and then specialize in psychiatry. Psychologists study psychology and then specialize in clinical psychology. As you can see, the skills and knowledge acquired by these professionals are different.
The first must master the neurological functioning and anatomical bases of the human body. For the clinical psychologist, it is essential to know the Social Sciences, something that will allow him to analyze the way people interact and how cultural dynamics act.
In both courses, there are subspecialties established based on the stage of personal development and the area of intervention in which they are framed. Thus, disorders more typical of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, or old age can be studied. Or they are limited to the framework of action, which is also very diverse: family, social, business, community, sexual…
Intertwined objectives
Psychologists assess and treat psychological problems. That is, those related to mental processes, sensations, perceptions, and people’s behavior. They analyze their origin and causes, always about the personal context. Specifically, clinical psychologists focus on the prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and treatment of psychological disorders that can occur throughout our life cycle.
The psychiatrist’s area of expertise is the physiological and chemical assessment of psychological problems. That is, he or she carries out his or her work from a medical and pharmacological perspective. For example, he or she may seek to restore the balance of a particular hormone in the brain.
Treatments in line with the objectives
The psychologist , regardless of his or her specialization, aims to improve the emotional and psychological well-being of the patient. To do this, through the use of certain techniques and skills, he or she tries to improve the person’s discomfort. He or she also provides the patient with tools so that he or she is able to maintain the changes achieved during the intervention over time.
Psychiatrists, having medical training and knowledge of the neurochemical functioning of the brain, are qualified to prescribe drugs. Anxiolytics and antidepressants are the most common. They can also provide medical care and admit patients to hospital .
Referral Guidelines
For example, in countries like Spain, when a patient goes to a primary care physician and explains the problem to him, he may refer him to a psychiatrist or psychologist . Once in his office, if he believes it is necessary for the treatment, he may refer the patient to a psychiatrist.
Thus, both professionals will carry out a joint intervention. On the one hand, the psychologist will work on the person’s behaviour and cognitive-emotional well-being. On the other hand, the psychiatrist will be in charge of prescribing and supervising the corresponding medication.
Depending on the magnitude and type of conflict faced, a patient may go to a psychologist without having to also go to a psychiatrist. Psychiatrist and psychologist can sometimes carry out a joint intervention.
Consideration of the problem
The clinical psychologist understands the patient’s problem in terms of adaptation or maladaptation. He or she focuses on establishing the causes of the disorder, as well as studying the factors that have made the patient’s behavior pathological. To do this, he or she seeks explanations in the patient’s personality traits , childhood, evolutionary development, physiological condition or environment.
Psychiatrists understand emotional problems in a very different way. They do so in terms of normality or abnormality. A disorder is therefore an anomaly or malfunction of the organism, such as, for example, a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Depth and duration of sessions
Psychiatrists and psychologists spend different amounts of time with their patients when they come to the clinic. This, in turn, is linked to the way they approach the problem. In general, psychologists usually set a period of time that ranges between 45-60 minutes. This way, they have time to delve into the psychological conflict and carry out the appropriate intervention techniques.
Psychiatrists usually do not spend more than 20 minutes. They do not tend to carry out such an exhaustive psychological evaluation, but rather are responsible for finding out how the patient has evolved since they prescribed the medication. Their task is to adjust it based on the person’s progress, as well as to maintain periodic check-ups.
Their specialized training in mental health provides both professionals with a comprehensive understanding of how the brain works. This means that in many cases, psychiatrists and psychologists must work together to treat various disorders.
In conclusion, psychiatrist and psychologist have the objective of improving the psychological state of the patient. However, they do so through different means :
- The psychiatrist will prescribe medication to readjust the levels of certain neurotransmitters.
- While the psychologist will work with psychological intervention techniques. These techniques generally aim to promote: 1) self-knowledge and 2) personal growth.
Finally, as Guillén, V., Botella, C., & Baños, R. (2017) point out, it is up to each person to go to one or another mental health professional, depending on their preferences and needs. This must be done with the utmost respect and understanding towards the patient and the decisions they make. In any case, both professionals can collaborate with each other for the benefit of the client.
All sources cited were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, timeliness and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Clinical psychology: existential foundations . University of the North.
- Gómez-Durán, EL, Rodríguez-Pazos, M., & Arimany-Manso, J. (2015). Medical professional responsibility in Psychiatry. Actas Esp Psiquiatr , 43 (6), 205-12.
- Guillén, V., Botella, C., & Baños, R. (2017). Positive clinical psychology and positive technologies. Papers of the Psychologist , 38 (1), 19-25.
- Jarne, A. (2015). Handbook of clinical psychopathology . Herder Editorial.
- Kapsambelis, V. (2017). Handbook of clinical psychiatry and adult psychopathology . Fondo de Cultura Economica.