[eMpAtHy]

anyone know how many years of medical school i need to become a psychiatrist??

i know its 4 years for my bachelor..but is it 3-4 years of medical school??

 

[TrevorNetwork]

A psychiatrist is literally a doctor of medicine specializing in psychiatry. You would need an MD, with 4-6 years of residence.

Trevor

 

[Jeff E]

A psychologist has a graduate degree in psychology. If a psychologist is a therapist (there are many other kinds of psychologists), he/she is currently limited to psychotherapy (talk therapy) in the U.S.

A psychiatrist, with a medical degree, can also include medication along with psychotherapy.

 

[Archangel]

Sorry double post

 

[Archangel]

How many years is there of a difference then, I`ve always thought it was something like :

Primarily a doctor + X-number of years with specialization in psychology = psychiatrist


Primarily a psychologist + a full medschool degree?? = psychiatrist

I`m under the impression that a person who is primarily a doctor gets away with fewer years of studying after ones primary degree then a psychologist if they both would like to become a psychiatrist ?

I mean a doctor doesn`t have to take a full psychology program does he ?
While I`m under the impression that a psychologist has to take a full medical one.....though I hope someone can clarify this for me as well ?

 

[TrevorNetwork]

As Jeff E had said, a Psychologist is simply an individual with a bachelor's or master's in Psychology practicing psycotherapy professionally. I do not believe there is a formal body that imbues the title of "Psychologist". It's similar to being a university professor. Having a Ph.D in Chemistry is typically a requirement to becoming a professor. That said, it could be stated that all professors have Ph.D's in their respective subjects. -but- not all Ph.D's are professors. It's the -employment- and practicing aspect that differentiates a professor from a Ph.D.

A Psychiatrist is an individual possessing an doctor of medicine (MD), who has also chosen a residence in Psychiatry. One does not need to take a course to specialize in Psychiatry. Put another way, one only requires an MD to practice Psychiatry. However, most individuals will choose to take additional courses, and certify with the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Cheers!

Trevor

 

[TrevorNetwork]

A residence (Specialization that a med school student undergoes) is a varying term. Again, there is no formal lessons required to become a psychiatrist beyond an MD. Residence is a formalized "apprenticeship" whereby a med student will job shadow a professional. Typically Psychiatry and specialized surgery have a lengthy residence. I have a hard time believing a hospital would hire a staff specialist surgeon or psychiatrist with less than 5 years residence. Keep in mind though that during residence you -are- practicing, but you're still a "student", and you wouldn't be certified with the APA.

 

[spaceman]

1. 4 years undergraduate pre-med or any undergrad degree with the appropriate sciences/math.

2. 4 years medical school.

3. 1 year internship with 3 years of residency in psychiatry.

4. 1-2 years fellowship in selected specialty prior to private/group practice.

 

[spaceman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff E A psychologist has a graduate degree in psychology. If a psychologist is a therapist (there are many other kinds of psychologists), he/she is currently limited to psychotherapy (talk therapy) in the U.S. A psychiatrist, with a medical degree, can also include medication along with psychotherapy.

In some states, practioner's other than psychiatrists/MDs can prescribe medications (ex: nurse practioners/physician assistants). I am working on my master's degree in LCSW with a specialty in counseling (psychotherapy), yet I will not be able to prescribe medications. However, I do have the option of obtaining my master's degree in psychiatric nursing at some point, and then I will be eligible to prescribe certain meds as part of therapy.

 

[TrevorNetwork]

What I would like to stress however, is there is nothing stoping any MD from practicing Psychiatry. Technically an MD needn't qualify with any body to practice any sort of allopathic medicine. i.e. A newly graduated MD with a GP residence can start to do heart surgery, poediatry, plastic surgery, psychiatry, dermatology... etc... However, to be taken seriously in any of those disceplines one should certify with the appropriate body. So, the minimum to become a psychiatrist in Canada:

3 years of undergrad (pass degree) with appropriate scores in Chem (reg,org,inorg), calculus (Not always required), physics, and English.

Pass the MCAT examination with a reasonable score (Not required for all med schools, i.e. McMaster)

4 years of general medical training. including clinical (i.e. working in a hospital)

<you're now a "student doctor", not an MD>

At which time you hope that a "teaching hospital" will have a person in the discipline you'd like to pursue will take you under his/her wing.

You'd then complete 2-4 years of residence training, still as a "student doctor" until the mentor physician decides you know enough to become a "staff <whatever>". The mentor will then relay this information to your med institution.

<you're now an MD, and are free to practice whatever your little heart desires. You'd be best to practice the discipline practiced in your residence>

you can then choose whether or not to certify with the appropriate body. (APA / CPA) Should you not decide to certify, it will be difficult to develop a patient base, as hospitals would never hire a non-APA/CPA psychiatrist, nor would a GP refer a patient to you.

cheers!

Trevor

 

[elrod-tom]

My wife is a licensed practicing child clinical psychologist, and works regularly with psychiatrists. I'm almost positive (I will check) that a psychiatrist need only complete VERY minimal coursework in psychology (i.e. no degree requirement) and receive residency training.

As for a psychologist, one need only complete a masters degree program if one is willing to pay for a licensed psychologist to provide supervision. One can also be a therapist (NOT a psychologist) with all shape and form of backgrounds. However, only a PhD in Psychology or a PsyD (from a school of professional psychology) may practice without supervision.

The differentiating factor is generally an internship at an APA approved setting. My wife, for example, did hers at a childrens hospital. These days, one of her duties is to train medical residents on psychiatry residencies.

 

[eMpAtHy]

oh my, i didnt expect soo much schooling to be a psychiatrist..but thanks everyone..this is the most information i've ever gotten about this subject ..i guess its going to be happy schooling for me..i might also go to law school instead of being a psychiatrist...not going to be a criminal lawyer..so u guys dont have to worry about me being one of them "bad lawyers"..but im basically going to be a lawyer dealing with contracts....lets see where these 2 jobs take me..lowered it down to 2..now i have to decide what i want to do out of the 2

 

[dohminator]

Well, it depends entirely on what you enjoy doing and what you want to do for the rest of your life.

If you want to do therapy and stuff, I would suggest just cutting out the psychiatry and try to be a clinical psychologist with either a Ph.D. or psy.D.

If therapy isn't what you are interested in, then I think you should avoid the field entirely.

 

[eMpAtHy]

what would be the one where u sit with someone in a room and talk to them about their problems and such?

 

[Archangel]

Both psychologists and psychiatrists do that, but the psychiatrist can prescribe medication so he deals with cases where the
patient are psychotic..etc etc have various cases of mental illness and so on.


A psychologist leans more towards counselling, where the problems are very often not of a medical, but a personal / social one.

However sometimes the patient/client can go to both a psychologist and a psychiatrist as they often work together in many cases.