Medical Doctors versus a Psychiatrist
In essence, this is not really the right terminology. A psychiatrist can be a medical doctor. A better question is what is the difference between a psychiatrist and other types of medical doctors? A psychiatrist goes through the same training as other medical doctors; however, they focus in psychiatry. The difference is not so much their training as their specialty.
Can a Medical Doctor Prescribe Medications for Psychological Issues or Disorders?
Yes, your medical doctor can prescribe what is referred to as psychotropic medicine or medicine to treat psychological issues or disorders.
Should I go to a Psychiatrist instead of a Medical Doctor?
To be honest, it depends. It's often easier to get in to see a medical doctor and, particularly in some areas, may be a way of getting the prescription more quickly. However, medical doctors don't always keep up on the literature about the psychotropic medications as well as a psychiatrist. Additionally, they do not have as much training and experience in psychological diagnosis. In other words, a general practioner or another medical doctor who is not a psychiatrist may not be as qualified to prescribe the medication that is most likely to be helpful for you. With that said, many other doctors who are not psychiatrists may be very competent in psychological diagnosis and their ability to prescribe the right medication.
If the Medicine Works, Do I Still Need to Go to Therapy?
In general, its best to be in therapy if you are on psychotropic medications. Therapy can help the medications be more effective and may be able to help some individuals eventually not need the medications anymore.
Typically, most people are not in therapy with the same person who is prescribing their medication. If this is the case for you, it is important to sign a release for your therapist or counselor to talk with the psychiatrist or medical practitioner who is prescribing the medications. If, as discussed above, the professional making the prescription is not trained or skilled in diagnosis, then the therapist or counselor may be able to help them make the appropriate prescription. Additionally, these two professionals can work together to help the prescribing professional determine if the medication is working.