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)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)