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ABOUT PSYCHIATRY: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS
Only the Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can order medical tests
and prescribe medication. It takes many years of education and training to
become a psychiatrist. After earning a bachelor's degree, he or she must
graduate from medical school and go on to complete four years of residency
training in the field of psychiatry.
Other professionals who care for people with mental illness or provide mental
health services undergo different types of training whose length and core
emphases differ according to the field of study. Here is a brief summary:
Psychologist: Most clinical psychologists have a master's or doctoral
degree; on the doctoral level, the degree is usually a Ph.D. (doctor of
philosophy) or Psy.D. (doctor of psychology, which is not a medical doctor). A
psychologist applies psychological principles to the treatment of mental,
emotional, and behavioral disorders and developmental disabilities through a
broad range of psychotherapies. A psychologist is commonly trained in advanced
psychology, abnormal psychology, statistics, testing theory, psychological
testing, psychological theory, research methods, psychotherapeutic techniques,
and psychosocial evaluation.
Licensed clinical social worker: A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
is also trained in psychotherapy and helps individuals deal effectively with a
variety of mental health and daily living problems to improve overall
functioning. A social worker usually has a master's degree in social work (MSW)
and has studied, among others, sociology, growth and development, mental health
theory and practice, human behavior/social environment, psychology, research
methods.
Psychiatric nurse: A psychiatric nurse may have an associate arts,
bachelor's, or master's degree in nursing. Much of the psychiatric nurse's
specialty training takes place in a hospital inpatient service. Among the
services the psychiatric nurse is trained to provide (at the order of a medical
doctor) are various patient care services, administration of medication, and
other duties commonly performed by nurses, such as immunizations and skin tests.
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FEDERATION
OF TEXAS PSYCHIATRY