How Psychiatry and Psychology Work As a Team?

Answer 1

Psychiatry and psychology are both intricately involved in assisting people who suffer from mental health problems. While the public is often unclear as to the differences in the two branches of mental health, working in tandem psychiatry and psychology meld to offer the best services for their patients. The following is a list of a few ways they work as a team to provide holistic care.

1. Psychiatry is a branch of medical science that believes mental health problems are based primarily on biological factors. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed the same rigorous training as any other physician, but specializes in mental health. They have extensive training in the chemical makeup of human beings and feel that moods are often influenced by brain chemicals. Though most psychiatrists acknowledge that behavioral therapy is important, they also feel that patients may need medication as well.
2. Psychology, on the other hand, bases its mental health approach on learned behavioral patterns. Psychologists are not medical doctors. However, psychologists hold Ph.D.s and have had at least eight years of education and training. To be effective, psychologists understand the processes of therapy and behavior modification and work to help patients adopt healthier cognitive approaches to issues.
3. Most psychiatrists and psychologists refer patients to each other to provide the best care. For example, if psychiatrists are treating patients who also appear to have learned behavioral issues, they will continue to treat them medically, but will refer them to a psychologist for therapy. The same is true for psychologists. Trained to identify underlying medical issues, they will often refer a patient to a psychiatrist to be medically evaluated and treated.
4. Both psychiatrists and psychologists offer specialty services as well. For example, only psychologists are trained to administer psychological tests that reveal intelligence and personality traits. Psychiatrists, acting as medical doctors, are able to medically evaluate patients who may be suffering from other medical conditions. They then refer these patients to other medical specialists for additional assistance.

Mental health is an intricate balance of physical and psychological factors. In order to receive optimal results, psychiatrists and psychologists work together as partners to help those in need.