Psychiatry vs. psychology In short, psychiatrists prescribe medications to treat specific psychological illnesses while psychologists do not prescribe medications but still help patients through various forms of therapy while their focus is more on the study of psychological matters. If you want an even shorter answer, psychiatrists are doctors and psychologists are essentially researchers or scientists but both fields can engage in either of these activities. The real answer of course is significantly more complex. There are a lot of similarities between the two fields and also some significant differences. For instance, both professions study psychology, help patients experiencing related psychological problems and both professions have a focus on researching and innovating in the field. Psychology and Psychiatry, Education and Training Like...