What Is The Difference Between A Psychiatrist And A Psychologist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialty training in psychiatry. They are able to prescribe medications, which is not something that psychologists can do. Psychologists have a doctoral degrees in psychology, and many of them specialize in psychotherapy - helping people work through their problems by talking about them. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed a residency in psychiatry. They are able to prescribe medications. Psychologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medications. Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree in psychology.

The main difference between psychiatrists and psychologists is that psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medication, while psychologists are not. Psychiatrists may also provide therapy, while psychologists generally do not. However, many psychiatrists also provide therapy, and many psychologists prescribe medication.

Psychologists, on the other hand, usually have a doctoral degree in psychology but are not licensed to prescribe medication. Psychologists are generally considered to be experts in the assessment of behavior and cognitive functioning, while psychiatrists are considered to be experts in both assessment and treatment. Psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medication. Psychologists are not medical doctors, and they cannot prescribe medication. Psychologists often have a PhD or a PsyD degree in psychology.

Psychologists have a PhD or a PsyD in psychology. They do not prescribe medications, but they can provide therapy and assessment services. Some psychologists do have prescribing privileges, but this varies from state to state. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychologists are not medical doctors, but they have graduate degrees in psychology and they can do psychological testing and therapy.

Psychiatrists can prescribe medications, while psychologists cannot. Some psychiatrists also do therapy, but many do not. Most psychologists do therapy. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications, which psychologists cannot. Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree in psychology but cannot prescribe medications. Psychologists provide therapy, which psychiatrists also do. So, psychiatrists are both therapists and prescribers of medication, while psychologists are therapists only.

Psychiatrists generally do a more detailed evaluation of a person's mental state and symptoms to make a diagnosis, while psychologists may only administer standardized tests. Psychiatrists usually provide long-term treatment for people with serious or chronic mental illness, while psychologists often provide short-term treatment or therapy. Psychiatrists have specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, whereas psychologists do not. psychiatrists can prescribe medication, whereas psychologists cannot.

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Telemedicine Policy Updates in India 2025: What changed and why it matters

Telemedicine went from “nice to have” to essential during COVID-19. India’s first clear move - the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines (March 2020) - established how registered medical practitioners (RMPs) could consult remotely. Five years later (2025), the legal foundation remains the same, but the policy conversation has matured: the emphasis has shifted from emergency enablement to quality, scale and trustworthy digital-health integration. esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in

Here’s what’s changed in practice during 2024–25 and what clinicians, health platforms, hospitals and patients need to know.

1) From permission to performance: measurable quality & assessment

Early telemedicine policy focused on what was allowed (who can practice, consent, prescribing). In 2024–25 the focus broadened to how well telemedicine is delivered. New research and tools - for example the Indian Telemedicine Assessment Scale (I-TASC) - provide standardized ways to assess usability, safety, and clinical appropriateness of teleconsult platforms and assisted telemedicine workflows. That matters because regulators and procurement bodies increasingly ask for documented quality metrics before contracting services. Lippincott Journals

Practical takeaway: platforms should prepare for periodic quality audits, implement clinician workflow checklists, and collect user-experience and outcome metrics.

2) eSanjeevani & national program learnings: operational standards

eSanjeevani remains India’s flagship public tele-OPD platform; recent program reports and the NHSRC telemedicine final report capture real-world lessons on scale, workforce training, connectivity limits, and SOPs needed for long-term operations. Those operational standards are being shared as best practices for state health departments and private providers. If you run tele-OPDs, expect guidance on staffing ratios, digital triage, documentation norms and escalation protocols. National Health Systems Resource Centre+1

Practical takeaway: align your tele-OPD SOPs with eSanjeevani/ NHMSC templates to improve interoperability and eligibility for public-private collaborations.

3) Data governance, consent & NDHE alignment

A major 2024–25 theme is better alignment between telemedicine practice and the National Digital Health Ecosystem (NDHE)/ABDM constructs. While the 2020 guidelines mentioned documentation and privacy, recent policy work is spelling out expectations for consent capture, audit trails, and reasonable security practices under the IT Act and NDHM frameworks. Independent telemedicine reviews and telehealth regulation reports have recommended clearer platform accountability for data handling and logging. Intelehealth+1

Practical takeaway: ensure digital consent flows are auditable, integrate ABHA (health ID) where available, and document security measures in vendor contracts.

4) Clinical scope, prescribing and hybrid care models

Clinical scope guidance remains - some scenarios still require in-person exams - but 2025 policy nudges encourage hybrid models: tele-triage + local diagnostics + in-person escalation when needed. Clinicians are expected to document limitations of remote exams and use remote monitoring or local tests to support decision-making. These pragmatic, workflow-level updates reduce risk and improve patient outcomes. esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in

Practical takeaway: adopt tele-triage protocols, use home/lab testing partnerships, and always document reasoned clinical judgment when physical exam is limited.

5) Workforce readiness & clinician adoption

Post-2020 the conversation often cited clinician reluctance as a barrier. In 2024–25, training programs, CME modules, and professional society toolkits have increased clinician readiness - and studies show greater comfort among doctors using telemedicine for follow-ups and chronic disease management. Telemedicine adoption is now less about permission and more about clinical workflow redesign. ScienceDirect

Practical takeaway: doctors should complete recommended telemedicine training modules and keep teleconsult records tidy - these are fast becoming minimum professional expectations.

6) Equity & rural access remain central

Policy updates also stress that telemedicine shouldn’t widen disparities. Program reports emphasise assisted telemedicine (health-worker facilitated consults), low-bandwidth solutions, and mobile outreach to bring telemedicine to rural clinics and railway hospitals - practical steps already piloted in several states. The Times of India+1

Practical takeaway: design low-bandwidth workflows and options for caregiver-assisted consultations to reach underserved populations.

Conclusion - what this means for you

By 2025 India’s telemedicine policy picture is no longer just “can you do it?” but “do it well, safely and equitably.” Keep following the 2020 Guidelines for the legal baseline; prepare for platform audits and quality assessment (I-TASC), align records and consent with NDHE/ABHA expectations, and embed hybrid care pathways that combine remote consults with local diagnostics and clear escalation rules. These steps will improve safety, trust and sustainability for telemedicine across India. esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in+2Lippincott Journals+2

Useful Links & Reports (official / high-quality)

Telemedicine Practice Guidelines (MoHFW / eSanjeevani) (2020) - official guideline PDF. esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in
https://esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in/assets/guidelines/Telemedicine_Practice_Guidelines.pdf
Telemedicine Final Report (NHSRC / eSanjeevani) - 2025 - program lessons & operational guidance. National Health Systems Resource Centre
https://www.nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/Telemedicine Final Report 2025.pdf
Indian Telemedicine Assessment Scale (I-TASC) - 2025 study - assessment tool for telemedicine usability and outcomes. Lippincott Journals

Telemedicine regulation & practice reviews (InteleHealth/Global reports) - data governance & code of practice recommendations. Intelehealth

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