Psychiatry is a medical field that specializes in mental health ranging from diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. While psychology is a non-medical field that studies a person's behavior and feelings, starting from the mindset, action, reaction, and also interaction.
Psychiatry and psychology are both branches of science that are useful in helping patients with mental disorders or psychological distress. The difference is in the educational background, training, and scope of practice.
Not only physical health, we also need to immediately seek help and treatment if you have mental health problems. But what often causes confusion is to go to a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Both are trained mental health professionals who often work together in dealing with mental health problems and provide us with various ways to manage problems in everyday life. Although they look the same, psychologists and psychiatrists are actually different.
Psychologist, Psychologist
Psychologists have a professional degree in psychology, which is a discipline of thought and behavior. They learn to evaluate and handle people with mental and emotional disorders. A psychologist is allowed to provide counseling and psychotherapy, psychological testing, and other non-medical treatments for mental disorders. However, psychologists may not prescribe or perform medical procedures to patients. Often, psychologists work with psychiatrists or other doctors who can provide medical care for mental illness.
Basically, in dealing with metal health disorders, psychologists play a role and help to:
- Assess and deal with behavioral and cognitive problems and plan behavioral management programs.
- Identify strengths and behaviors that can help patients succeed in rehabilitation.
- Give patient and family counseling during times of stress, loss, and when sad or sad.
- Identify feelings and emotions that might have an impact on patient recovery.
Psychiatrist, Psychiatrist
If psychologists come from the world of psychology, then psychiatrists come from the world of medicine. A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes or expertise in preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental illness. Psychiatrists are trained to distinguish mental health problems from other medical conditions that can accompany or underlie the appearance of these psychiatric symptoms.
Psychiatrists can also monitor the effect of mental illness on other physical illnesses (such as heart problems or high blood pressure), as well as the effects of medications on the body (for example weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, sleep, kidney function, or liver function).
As a doctor, psychiatrists are, of course, permitted to write prescriptions. Many mental disorders can be effectively treated with certain medications, for example depression, anxiety, ADHD, or bipolar disorder.
Psychologist or Psychiatrist?
If you feel you need help due to mental problems, the first thing you can do is go to a general practitioner. Why? Sometimes mental problems can be caused by physical illness. Our body can also respond physically to the mental conditions that are experienced, such as depression or anxiety that often resemble ordinary physical illness.
The doctor will ask what symptoms we experience, how long the symptoms have appeared, and whether the symptoms appear continuously or disappear. Followed by physical examination to look for possible physical disorders that may be related to the appearance of these symptoms. From the results of the examination, the general practitioner can help us determine the mental health expert and the appropriate type of therapy.
Psychologists and psychiatrists coordinate with each other as a team in diagnosing and providing the best therapy for sufferers of mental health disorders.
