Difference of Psychologist and Psychiatrist

Many laymen misunderstand psychologists and psychiatrists and consider both to be the same because of psychological problems. Actually what distinguishes these two professions?

If you want a simple explanation like this, a psychiatrist may give the medicine while psychologists should not give medicine.

Whereas if you look at the background of education, psychologists are psychology graduates who have followed the academic program of strata one (bachelor of psychology) and professional program as a psychologist.

While the psychiatrist is a specialist who has completed undergraduate education (medical graduate), professional education as a doctor and education specialization of mental medicine.

As quoted from the Code of Ethics of Psychology published Himpsi (Association of Indonesian Psychologists), Monday (21/06/2010), psychologists and psychiatrists equally explore the psychology and all things related to human development.

Both of these professions also have the same concentration of practice, in the form of treatment, prevention, diagnosis and therapy.

However, the most discriminating here is in terms of drug therapy (pharmacotherapy). Therapeutic drugs can only be done by a psychiatrist, who incidentally have a background of medicine more involved in clinical treatment. While psychologists are more focused on social aspects, such as providing treatment in the form of psychological therapy (psychotherapy).

Although it does not rule out that psychologists are studying medicine, this one therapy (pharmacotherapy) can not be done carelessly, as has been stated in the code of ethics of each profession. This is because the psychiatrist, also known as the Mental Medicine Specialist, is more deeply into the content in drug therapy and has the permission to give it.

But in practice, both psychologists and psychiatrists can work together. Psychologists may refer their clients to consult a psychiatrist or other expert if there is a need to be addressed further, or vice versa. This depends on the case or problem faced by the client and depends on which aspects need to be addressed first.

Problems that are generally handled by psychologists and psychiatrists are the issues surrounding behavioral aberrations such as juvenile delinquency, school phobia, anxiety problems, family conflicts, confidence crisis, to the problem of hallucinations, schizophrenia, and others.

So already understand the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.