Psychiatrist or Psychologist?

Wed, 2011-01-05 17:50 | by Anonymous

I suffer from generalized anxiety disorders and panic attacks...what type of doctor should I see, psychiatrist or psychologist? Also, any recommendations on finding a doctor who's gotten good reviews rather than picking a name out of a phone book?

by John65359 | Wed, 2011-01-05 19:54

Psychologist or Psychiatrist?

Hi!
It depends... you probably need a Psychiatrist if you need medication to help you get through the rough days. You will definitely need a Psychologist to help you work on the panic and anxiety. My daughter is 10 and is being treated for panic attacks and OCD. We found a treatment center just for Anxiety in our area!!

Good Luck!

by alliecg27 | Tue, 2012-01-24 15:44

Hi, Sorry to hear you're

Hi,

Sorry to hear you're dealing with this; I know how awful it can be.

I agree with the previous poster, and just want to add (to help you make the decision) that the difference is educational background.

A psychologist typically has a Ph.D. and has spent more time with counseling/therapy/etc. if they're in a practice which treats anxiety. They likely also have training in testing for disorders.

A psychiatrist is an M.D. and attended medical school. They may or may not have had more extensive training than what they received in medical school, but they are capable of prescribing meds and rarely provide counseling. A lot of times you'll find psychologists and psychiatrists working within the same practice, where one treats with counseling and the other prescribes meds if appropriate.

Hope that helps!