Many people are confused by the differences between a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Whilst they are both health professionals with many years of education and training who care for people with mental health problems, a psychiatrist can prescribe medication as they have trained as a medical doctor whereas a psychologist cannot. For this reason, a psychiatrist will tend to treat people with more serious mental illnesses. It’s important to note that psychiatrists can use a combination of treatments depending on the patient and the diagnosis, including counselling, psychotherapy and medication.
Common conditions psychiatrists treat
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Bipolar Affective Disorders
- Sleep Disorders
- Chronic Fatigue
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
