Title: Should I go see a primary care physician or a psychiatrist? What is the difference? - Anxiety Boss
Headings: Should I go see a primary care physician or a psychiatrist? What is the difference?
Should I go see a primary care physician or a psychiatrist? What is the difference?
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Content: They are generalists and treat a broad variety of common medical problems from suturing and laceration to giving vaccinations to checking your blood pressure and cholesterol. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in treatment of psychological and emotional problems. They may do this through prescribing medication or providing psychotherapy. In some regions, if there is a shortage of available psychiatrists, PCPs may be the main prescribers of medication for mental health issues, particularly for anxiety and depression which are the most common mental health complaints. In the United States, most prescriptions for antidepressants and antianxiety medications are written by PCPs, even in areas which do have sufficient psychiatrists with openings for new patients. This is partly due to most patients with anxiety or depression first voicing the complaint to their PCP, and partly due to patients wishing to avoid seeing a psychiatrist. There is a social stigma involved with seeing a psychiatrist. The public may hold the belief that only people who are very disturbed need a psychiatrist or one may believe there must be something very wrong with me if I need a psychiatrist. Once again, a PCP is a generalist. A psychiatrist is a specialist.