<p>From what I've read, the main thing that psychiatrists do is treat patients with medication. Are they just as equipped as psychologists to provide the actual psychotherapy part? Or would a patient go elsewhere for the talking treatment?</p>
<p>Yes. Psychiatrists generally are just doctors for mental illness. They will often refer their patients to see psychotherapists (for CBT or other talking treatment) as part of a complete treatment plan. Psychiatrists primarily prescribe medication, which requires a medical degree. Rarely are they suited for psychotherapy which requires a seperate degree altogether.</p>
<p>OK, thanks for the information!</p>
<p>The above is simply untrue. Psychiatrists are MDs who have successfully completed a 3 to 4 year residency training program in all aspects of the diagnosis and management of mental illness. This includes anything from hypnotherapy to electroconvulsive convulsive therapy.</p>
<p>Is it relaistic to aspire to become a psychiatrist who provides the medical needs as well as the pyschiotherapy needs to patients? I really am interested in pyschiatry but feel that i would get very bored just manageing medicine all day.</p>
<p>No. There's no way one could be a competent Psychiatrist & primary care provider. The training is different and the workload is structured differently.</p>
<p>taht seems like a very closeminded post. From what I've heard psychotherapy is a part of every psychiatrists residency program, although most do not emphasize it.</p>
<p>OneLove....I'm not giving you my opinion, I'm simply telling you how it is. However, a lot of the care primary docs provide their patients is emotional support and advice.</p>