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Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in treating mental illness. They undergo general medicine training followed by three years of specialized psychiatry studies and a residency program. They can prescribe medication and perform psychotherapy. Psychologist programs are different and require a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree. Licensing and certification requirements vary by state.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) or sometimes osteopathic doctor (DO) who specializes in the treatment of mental illness. As such, psychiatrist programs are medical school programs, but they can vary depending on the state or country in which they are located. All psychiatrist programs provide training in general medicine as well as mental health treatments.
Prospective students should not confuse psychiatrist programs with psychologist programs. A psychiatrist is a doctor who performs psychotherapy, makes medical diagnoses and prescribes medications. On the other hand, a psychologist can work as a psychotherapist or psychological researcher, but cannot give medical advice. A psychologist must hold a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy. D.) degree, rather than a doctorate
Most psychiatrist programs are part of traditional medical schools. They usually involve one year of general medicine courses, followed by three years of specialized studies in psychiatry, and then a residency program. Some psychiatry programs allow students or residents to further specialize in the field of psychiatry. Students can choose to take additional courses or residencies in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatrics, general adult psychiatry, or community psychiatry.
Some osteopathic medical schools also have psychiatry programs. Osteopathic programs are generally designed to train primary care physicians holistically. In other words, osteopathic physicians often have a greater emphasis on community health and disease prevention than traditional healers. They also focus on the effects of body structure and the skeletal system on overall health. However, some osteopathic physicians may receive training in psychiatry, and in the US and other countries are considered fully qualified physicians.
The process for licensing and certifying psychiatrists varies from state to state. Typically, a medical school tailors its psychiatrist programs to the requirement of the state in which it is located. Students who wish to practice medicine in a state other than the one where they attend medical school must be sure they meet the requirements for both states.
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