What is the difference between psychology, psychiatry and mental health nursing

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental process. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist. Psychologists explore behavior and mental processes, including perception, cognition, attention, emotion (affect), intelligence, motivation brain functioning, and personality.

The main difference between psychologist and psychiatrist is Psychologist cannot prescribe medicine but psychiatrist do provide medicine. A psychologist is not able to write prescriptions, but may be recommended a patient be seen by a fellow psychiatrist in order to receive medications.

A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders.Psychiatrists are medical doctors, unlike psychologists, and must evaluate patients to determine whether their symptoms are the result of a physical illness, a combination of physical and mental ailments, or strictly psychiatric.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who graduate from medical school, have a year of medical internship and have 3 years of residency in the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders.

Psychologists have a doctoral degree in an area of psychology, the study of the mind and human behavior. They’re not medical doctors. A psychologist can have a Ph.D. in philosophy or a PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology. Typically, they do 1-2 years of internship.

Psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing is the appointed position of a nursing that has specialized in mental health and cares for people of all ages with mental illness or mental distress, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression, dementia and many more. You will first need to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing. While doing so, you should also concentrate on taking several mental health courses. Once you earn your nursing degree, you will also need to pass the proper license to become a registered nurse or advanced practice nurse.

 Refer: Pragya Mishra