If you feel you have depression, you have a choice of who to go to–a psychologist, a psychiatrist or your family doctor–but who should you choose? Psychiatrists have the most in-depth training on antidepressants but they generally don’t spend much time doing psychotherapy with their patients. On the other hand, psychologists strictly do psychotherapy and cannot prescribe medications. Family physicians do have training on antidepressants and diagnosing depression, though it tends to be more limited.
What’s in this video: An overview of the difference between psychology, psychiatry and family medicine, what type of training these fields receive in diagnosing depression and prescribing antidepressants, whether they refer to psychologists or psychiatrists for additional help in treating depressed patients, and a discussion of the cost of psychotherapy.
William Robiner, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., L.P., is a health psychologist and director of health psychology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Linda Muldoon, Ph.D., L.P., L.G.P., is a senior pychologist for the University Counseling & Consulting Services at the University of Minnesota.
David Adson, M.D., is a psychiatrist and associate professor for the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Jon Hallberg, M.D., is a family physician and medical director of Mill City Clinic, as well as creative director of the Center for Arts and Medicine, both in Minneapolis, MN.
Related material:
Prescribing antidepressants
Psychotherapy
Out-of-pocket cost of therapy
