Should I see a psychiatrist or a psychologist?
See a psychiatrist if you may need medicine or a medical diagnosis, and a psychologist if you mainly want talking therapy.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a four year psychiatry residency after medical school, about 12 years of training after high school. Psychiatrists can diagnose, order tests, prescribe medicine and give therapy. A psychologist usually holds a doctorate, assesses and treats with therapy such as CBT, and in most places does not prescribe.
Many people start with a family doctor, who can rule out physical causes and refer. Seeing both is common: a psychiatrist for medicine and a psychologist or therapist for regular sessions. For bipolar disorder, psychosis, or depression that has not improved with first treatment, a psychiatrist is the better first step.
Source: American Psychiatric Association: What is psychiatry?
See a doctor promptly if
- Thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself, or feeling unable to keep yourself safe. Call your local emergency number now
- Hearing voices, seeing things others cannot, or holding fixed beliefs that others say are not real
- Several days of very high energy, little need for sleep, racing thoughts and risky spending or behavior
- Not eating or drinking, or being unable to get out of bed or care for yourself for days
- Severe confusion or a sudden change in personality, especially in an older adult, which needs a medical check the same day
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Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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A psychiatrist answers one question privately, in writing, within 24 hours. Or talk it through on a 20 minute video call.
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