As there seems to be some confusion in the community with differentiating between the disciplines of psychiatry and psychology, I have been asked to explain and contrast the practices and backgrounds of these two professions. To begin, the two have differing degree pathways, a psychiatrist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) while a psychologist is a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D) or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

A psychiatrist attends medical school after their completion of undergraduate or graduate education. In medical school the first two years are largely academic work including biochemistry, cell biology, gross anatomy, pathology, etc., but there are also some clinical responsibilities. The final two years involve clerkships in the various medical disciplines (surgery, neurology, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, etc.)

After the completion of medical school, a psychiatrist completes a residency in "psychiatry." The first year is generally an internship that includes internal medicine, neurology, family medicine, and emergency medicine, but may include other disciplines. A psychiatrist’s last three years of training are in psychiatry specific areas of medicine including but not limited to: inpatient and outpatient geriatric, adult, and child psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, emergency psychiatry, forensics, addiction medicine, and psychotherapy. Generally during a residency program the physician will take "night call" for inpatient services, floor psychiatric consults, and emergency rooms at one or more local hospitals in addition to their daytime duties.