psychologist v. psychiatrist

‘Psycho-’ means ‘mind’, ‘-logy’ means ‘science’ or ‘theory’, and ‘-iatry’ means ‘medical treatment’.

Pychologists study people’s minds and behavior. Their treatment is based primarily on empirical diagnosis resulting from psychotherapy or counseling. A psychologist may hold a PhD or a PsyD.

Psychiatrists fall between psychologists and neurologists in the spectrum of professionals dealing with disorders of the nervous system. When treating patients, in addition to psychotherapy, a psychiatrist may draw on the disciplines of neuroscience, medicine, biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. A psychiatrist is a physician with an MD, and therefore can prescribe medication, order laboratory tests, and conduct physical examinations.

WebMD on psychologist v. psychiatrist