A psychiatrist is a fully qualified medical doctor specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems. This is similar, for example, to a cardiologist who after training in general medicine then goes on to specialise in heart disease. Treatments used by psychiatrists may include talking treatments (psychotherapy) or medication.
A psychologist completes an undergraduate degree in psychology, and may then specialise in one of many areas such as education, normal processes like memory, personality and psychometric testing, or mental health problems (clinical psychology). As well as assessing mental health problems, they may use a range of talking therapy treatments
Can medication help?
A great deal of research evidence shows that medication can be very effective in certain mental health problems, both in the short and long term. Conditions in which it can make a real difference include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, manic depression (bipolar affective disorder) and obsessive compulsive disorder. Public and popular media misunderstanding surrounds many drugs, so it is important that information is presented in an open and honest manner by an expert who is experienced in their use.
All medication has side effects (even aspirin for a headache), and knowing about them is essential for you to decide on whether to try any particular treatment. The ultimate decision on any treatment option is yours, based on advice that weighs up both the risks and benefits. Careful drug selection and close monitoring have been shown to minimise the risk of side effects and optimise the likelihood of a beneficial effect.
What is psychotherapy?
There is a large range of range of talking therapies (psychotherapy) such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), cognitive analytical therapy (CAT), dynamic therapy (psychoanalysis - of which there are a number of varieties such as Freudian, Kleinian, Jungian etc), family therapy, interpersonal therapy and so on. This range has been developed to address a huge range of problems, from illnesses such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression, through to personality problems.
Choosing a particular therapy depends on the therapist's skills, your preferences, and research evidence on the effectiveness of a particular therapy for a specific problem. A review of the current scientific evidence for the effectiveness of various psychotherapies for different conditions can be found on the resources page.