Master Minds

Updated on: Monday, May 18, 2009

According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, opportunities in psychology and psychiatry will continue to grow over the next decade. The
website for the bureau states: ‘Employment in healthcare will grow fastest in outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment clinics. Numerous job opportunities will also arise in schools, public and private social service agencies, and management consulting services. Companies will use psychologists’ expertise in survey design, analysis, and research, to provide marketing evaluation and statistical analysis. The increase in employee assistance programmes, which offer employees help with personal problems, should also spur job growth.’

Though this estimate cannot be blindly applied to the Indian context, the fact is, today, Indians are also waking up to the need for good, balanced mental health. Concurs Tej Bahadur Singh, president, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologist and professor and HOD, Clinical Psychology, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi, “The increase in mental health problems among people has led to tremendous scope and demand for mental health professionals in India. Indians are now realising the importance of mental well-being. Hence, there is a possibility of better opportunities for mental health professionals in general.”

Harish Shetty, psychiatrist, L H Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, declares, “A million forays have been made in the mental healthcare profession, and the entire scenario is bubbling with enthusiasm.”

PSYCHIATRY VS PSYCHOLOGY
The fundamental difference between psychology and psychiatry is that while psychiatry is a medical degree, psychology is not. Psychologists primarily aid patients through counselling and psychotherapy. A psychiatrist, on the other hand, can prescribe medication and perform ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), in addition to performing psychotherapy. Elaborates Varkha Chulani, clinical psychologist, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, “While a psychiatrist treats chemical causes of emotional disturbances through medication and ECTs, a psychotherapist treats attitudinal causes of disturbances. Everyone, who is disturbed, is not necessarily chemically imbalanced, and vice versa.”

There are several fields within psychology and psychiatry — some which both psychologists and psychiatrists can pursue.

Clinical psychology/psychiatry
Clinical psychologists and psychiatrists diagnose and treat various mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders, including cases of schizophrenia and depression. Clinical psychology is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. Distinguishing the means by which clinical psychiatrists and psychologists function, Singh says, “Clinical psychiatry generally uses drug treatment to manage mental health problems, while a clinical psychologist uses psychological testing and treatment. A clinical psychologist has nothing to do with drugs.”

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