Difference Between Psychiatry and Psychology: Psychiatric Illness vs. Psychological Issues

What can a $300 million dollar multi-level marketing scheme teach us about the nature of mental health challenges?

Glenn W. Turner’s journey into the world of mental health care began with a fascination for the human mind and its complexities. This interest led him to explore the differences between psychology and psychiatry, two fields that are often confused but have distinct educational pathways and roles.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who must attend medical school and obtain a medical degree. Before entering medical school, they are required to complete a bachelor’s degree. The training path for psychiatrists typically includes four years of medical school followed by a four-year residency in psychiatry. After medical school, psychiatrists undergo extensive medical training, including a residency in mental health, which equips them to prescribe medication and perform medical procedures. This comprehensive training allows psychiatrists to diagnose, treat, and manage complex psychiatric conditions, often integrating medical and psychological expertise.

In contrast, psychologists typically begin with a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree, and then earn a doctoral degree such as a Ph.D. or Psy.D. The path to becoming a licensed psychologist typically involves five to seven years of doctoral-level graduate study, including a clinical internship and supervised practice. To practice independently, they must become a licensed psychologist, which requires advanced education and supervised practical experience. Psychologists focus on understanding mental processes and the psychological aspects of human behavior, including emotions, cognition, and environmental influences. They conduct psychological assessment to diagnose and understand mental health conditions, using standardized testing methods to inform treatment planning.

The distinction between psychologists and psychiatrists is crucial. Psychologists and psychiatrists often work together in various professional settings, combining their expertise to provide comprehensive care. While psychiatrists and psychologists have different educational backgrounds and treatment approaches, their collaboration is essential for addressing the full spectrum of mental health needs. Psychiatrists generally undergo 12 years of training, including undergraduate education, medical school, and residency, which equips them with the medical expertise to address complex psychiatric conditions.

Both professions play vital roles in supporting mental health, each contributing distinct but complementary approaches to promote mental well-being.

Glenn W. Turner’s Story and Mental Health Challenges

Glenn W. Turner (1934–2020), founder of Koscot Interplanetary, Inc., rose from a challenging South Carolina childhood – marked by a cleft palate that caused speech impediments and bullying, leading him to drop out of school in the eighth grade – to become a renowned motivational speaker and entrepreneur in the 1960s. He launched Koscot in 1967, a multi-level marketing (MLM) company selling mink oil-based cosmetics, and followed it with the self-improvement program Dare to Be Great, attracting hundreds of thousands with promises of wealth and success. However, his empire, valued at over $300 million at its peak, collapsed amid allegations of pyramid schemes, culminating in a 1987 conviction for fraud and conspiracy, resulting in seven years in prison. Turner’s charismatic yet manipulative style has led to speculation about underlying mental illnesses and mental health conditions, such as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) traits like grandiosity and a need for admiration, or antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) elements like deceit and disregard for norms. Similarly, bipolar disorder – a psychiatric illness characterized by extreme mood swings – could contribute to such outcomes; specifically, during manic episodes, individuals experience heightened energy, euphoria, reduced need for sleep, and impulsive decision-making, which might fuel rapid entrepreneurial success like Turner’s MLM empire but lead to reckless behaviors, poor judgment, and eventual downfall through unchecked risks or grandiose schemes. These mental illnesses and mental health conditions may present similarly – both potentially marked by erratic behavior or emotional volatility – but require distinct treatments for effective management. Mental health professionals diagnose mental illnesses using comprehensive medical evaluations and medical tests to differentiate between specific mental health disorders and to inform the best course of action. Treatment typically involves developing a treatment plan, with individualized treatment plans tailored to the person’s unique needs. Approaches may include behavioral intervention, family therapy, and other forms of psychotherapy, as well as medication management when appropriate. In psychiatry, medical intervention, medical treatments, and medical procedures are available, especially for severe or complex cases. Subspecialties such as adolescent psychiatry and the treatment of substance use disorders further expand the psychiatrist’s expertise. Both a psychologist and a psychiatrist are trained to diagnose mental illnesses and treat mental health disorders, but their roles differ: psychologists focus on therapy and behavioral strategies, while psychiatrists can prescribe medications and perform medical procedures. Ultimately, the goal of all interventions is to address psychological challenges and improve patient care through collaborative, multidisciplinary support. This article explores these differences, spotlighting the provided by FasPsych, a national telepsychiatry company specializing in mental health staffing and connecting healthcare facilities with behavioral health professionals for virtual psychiatric care. Contact FasPsych at https://faspsych.com/partner-with-us/ to learn more!

Psychology and psychiatry are two closely related fields in mental health care, yet they differ significantly in focus, training, and approach. Psychology primarily involves the study of behavior, emotions, and cognitive processes through non-medical methods, with psychologists holding doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and specializing in therapy, assessment, and research to help individuals understand and modify patterns of thinking and behavior. Psychologists do not prescribe medications, focusing instead on non-medical interventions. Psychologists use talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral intervention, family therapy, or psychoanalysis but cannot prescribe medications, but can work with other FasPsych staff to bridge the divide. In contrast, psychiatry is a branch of medicine, where psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who complete medical school and residency training, including subspecialties such as adolescent psychiatry or addiction psychiatry for substance use disorders, enabling them to diagnose mental disorders, prescribe medications, and provide therapy while addressing biological factors such as brain chemistry or genetics. Psychiatrists use medical evaluations, medical tests, medical intervention, medical treatments, and medical procedures as part of their approach to treat mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions. While psychologists emphasize insight and behavioral change, psychiatrists often integrate medical interventions for symptom management, and both collaborate in comprehensive care models to support conditions like those speculated in cases such as Glenn W. Turner’s.

Psychological vs. Psychiatric Treatment: Key Differences

When addressing psychiatric illnesses and personality disorders, the choice between psychological and psychiatric treatment – or a combination of both – plays a pivotal role in outcomes. Psychological treatment, typically provided by psychologists, clinical psychologists, or licensed therapists, centers on talk therapy, psychological assessments, and behavioral interventions. Clinical psychologists, with advanced training in clinical psychology and supervised clinical experience, are experts in conducting psychological assessments to diagnose and understand mental health conditions. They are involved in providing therapeutic services and therapeutic interventions in clinical practice, including private practice, private practices, outpatient settings, hospitals, and their own private practice. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other treatment methods help individuals identify and reframe distorted thinking patterns, while dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is particularly effective for emotional regulation in Cluster B personality disorders like borderline or narcissistic types. These approaches focus on building insight, improving interpersonal skills, and fostering long-term behavioral changes without relying on medication. In speculative cases like Glenn W. Turner’s, where traits of NPD (e.g., an exaggerated sense of self-importance) or ASPD (e.g., manipulative tendencies) might be present, psychological treatment could address underlying insecurities from his childhood bullying and speech issues, promoting empathy and ethical decision-making. Professional practice standards and ongoing education are essential for psychologists to maintain high-quality care.

Psychiatric treatment, delivered by psychiatrists (medical doctors), emphasizes medication to manage symptoms rooted in biological factors. For psychiatric illnesses such as depression or bipolar disorder, antidepressants or mood stabilizers can restore chemical balance, alleviating acute symptoms and enabling patients to engage more effectively in therapy. Even for personality disorders, psychiatrists may prescribe medications off-label to treat co-occurring issues like anxiety or impulsivity, though no drugs are specifically approved for the disorders themselves. Psychiatrists often work in collaboration with licensed psychologists, other mental health professionals, other medical professionals, and medical professionals to provide comprehensive, team-based care. The key difference lies in scope: psychological treatment is non-invasive and insight-oriented, ideal for chronic patterns, while psychiatric treatment is often quicker for symptom relief in episodic conditions. In practice, integrated care – such as that facilitated by FasPsych’s staffing services – combines both, offering holistic support. For example, someone with speculated NPD like Turner might benefit from psychiatric medication for comorbid depression alongside psychological therapy to challenge grandiose beliefs and receive therapeutic services from a multidisciplinary team.

FasPsych Services: Psychiatric and Counseling Staffing Solutions

FasPsych is an Arizona-based nationwide psychiatric and counseling staffing service that connects healthcare facilities—hospitals, clinics, [government agencies], and telehealth platforms—with qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals to deliver expert care for psychiatric illness vs. personality disorder. Psychiatrists provided by FasPsych have a strong background in medical science and undergo extensive medical training, enabling them to address both mental and physical health conditions.

• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluations: FasPsych connects facilities with psychiatrists or counselors for thorough psychiatric evaluations across the country. For example, in Glenn W. Turner’s case, where NPD traits like grandiosity might overlap with anxiety, these evaluations ensure accurate diagnoses for tailored plans. Learn about evaluations.
• Medication Management: FasPsych facilitates medication management for mental health, connecting facilities with psychiatrists prescribing antidepressants or antipsychotics. For personality disorders, like potential ASPD in Turner’s case, co-occurring symptoms (e.g., mood instability) are addressed to support psychotherapy. Explore medication management.
• Telepsychiatry Staffing Services: FasPsych’s nationwide telepsychiatry staffing connects facilities with mental health professionals offering remote care, ideal for rural areas and government agencies. This could have provided Turner access to support for behaviors driving his schemes. Contact FasPsych at https://faspsych.com/partner-with-us/ to explore telepsychiatry staffing!
• Collaborative Care Model: FasPsych integrates psychiatry and other medical staff for a continuity of care with the patient, connecting facilities with mental health professionals combining medication management with therapies like CBT or DBT. For Cluster B disorders, as speculated in Turner’s manipulative tendencies, this model addresses emotional volatility. Many psychiatrists and psychologists placed by FasPsych have completed additional training and specialized training to work in subspecialties such as addiction psychiatry or child and adolescent psychiatry, ensuring advanced expertise for complex cases.

Partner with FasPsych for Mental Health Services

The distinction between psychiatric illnesses and personality disorders, which may mirror each other yet demand unique treatments, is critical for effective care. FasPsych, a nation-wide psychiatric and counseling staffing service, connects healthcare facilities with top-tier mental health professionals for psychiatric evaluations and collaborative treatment. FasPsych delivers accessible, evidence-based solutions. Contact FasPsych at https://faspsych.com/partner-with-us/ or call at 877-218-4070 to enhance mental health care delivery today!