By:Nida Azeemi
Revised by: Maya Adam
In today’s world, lots of significance is put on our mental health. Mental illness is incredibly common, as more than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness. Due to this, psychiatrists are important to help with mental health treatment. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing various mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. A qualified psychiatrist needs to complete an undergraduate college program, complete medical school, and complete a four-year residency program.
Psychiatrists are often compared to psychologists. The major difference between the two is that psychiatrists prescribe medication to patients, while psychologists do not. Psychologists, unlike psychiatrists, provide psychotherapy, or talk therapy, to their patients. While both professions play an important role in treating mental illness, their training, treatments provided, types of conditions treated, etc., are different.
Psychiatrists have lots of responsibilities on which they have to focus. Some of their duties consist of evaluating and diagnosing patients, prescribing medications, ongoing patient care, etc. They work in various settings and collaborate with other medical professionals as well. Common conditions that are treated by a psychiatrist are post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, dissociative disorders, schizophrenia, and addiction and substance use disorders. This can be a fulfilling field for someone who wants to make a deep and positive impact on people’s lives. They help patients understand and manage impactful mental illnesses.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 16 Apr. 2024, www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm.
St. George's University. “What Is a Psychiatrist? Understanding This Critical Role.” Www.sgu.edu, 9 Jan. 2019, www.sgu.edu/blog/medical/what-is-a-psychiatrist/.
Your Health In Mind. “Psychiatrists and Psychologists: What’s the Difference?” RANZCP, 2000, www.yourhealthinmind.org/psychiatry-explained/psychiatrists-and-psychologists.
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