Neuropsychologist, psychologist or psychiatrist: what is the difference?

If you are worried about your memory, mood, attention or behaviour, it can be hard to know whether to see a neuropsychologist, psychologist or psychiatrist. The names sound alike, and all three work with the mind and brain.

The main differences are in their training, the questions they are trained to answer, and whether they can prescribe medicine. This guide explains each role in plain terms, how they work together, and how to decide where to start.

The short answer

All three professions help people with problems of thinking, feeling and behaviour. They come at those problems from different angles.

What a psychologist does

healthdirect describes psychologists as registered health professionals who are trained in human behaviour. They help people with problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties, mostly through talking therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy (a structured therapy that looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions).

To be a psychologist in Australia, a person must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. The Board requires a six-year sequence of education and training for general registration. This is usually a four-year accredited psychology degree followed by a Masters or Doctorate, or by a supervised internship.

Endorsed areas of practice

Some psychologists go on to gain an area of practice endorsement. The Board recognises nine areas, including clinical psychology, counselling psychology, educational and developmental psychology, and clinical neuropsychology. The Board notes that there is no specialist registration in psychology, so endorsement is the formal way these extra qualifications are recognised.

What a clinical neuropsychologist does

A clinical neuropsychologist is a psychologist who has done further postgraduate study focused on the brain. According to the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, this involves a minimum of six years of full-time university training plus supervised clinical experience. For endorsement, the Psychology Board also requires a period of supervised practice called the registrar program.

Neuropsychologists are experts in how brain conditions affect thinking, behaviour and emotions. Their main tool is a detailed assessment, which measures skills such as:

• memory and learning
• attention and concentration
• speed of thinking
• language and word finding
• planning, problem solving and flexible thinking
• visual and spatial skills

They often see people with a brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, dementia or another neurological condition. They also assess children and adults for learning disorders, intellectual disability, ADHD and autism, and help with questions about decision-making capacity. Many also provide cognitive rehabilitation, which teaches practical strategies to manage changes in thinking.

What a psychiatrist does

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. healthdirect explains that psychiatrists have completed specialised training in how to diagnose, treat and prevent mental, emotional and behavioural disorders, and that the main difference from psychologists is that a psychiatrist can prescribe medicines.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists outlines the path: a medical degree of 4 to 6 years, around 2 years of hospital training, then at least 5 years of specialist psychiatry training.

People are often referred to a psychiatrist when a mental health condition is severe or complex, when medicine may help, or when the diagnosis is unclear. Examples include bipolar disorder, psychosis, severe depression, or ADHD where medicine is being considered.

How the professions work together

A neurologist is another doctor you may hear about. healthdirect describes a neurologist as a specialist physician who diagnoses and treats conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves, such as epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. You need a GP referral to see one.

Your GP is usually the first stop. They can check for physical causes of symptoms, order blood tests or scans, and refer you on. A neurologist may order a brain scan to look at the structure of the brain. A neuropsychologist looks at how well the brain is working in daily life. The two often work side by side.

A hypothetical example

For example, a 68-year-old person might notice they are losing track of conversations and forgetting appointments. Their GP checks for physical causes, such as infections, low vitamin levels or medicine side effects, and refers them to a geriatrician or neurologist, who may arrange a brain scan.

A neuropsychologist then measures memory, attention, language and planning in detail. The results help show whether the pattern looks more like normal ageing, mild cognitive impairment, low mood, or an early dementia. If low mood is part of the picture, a psychologist may offer therapy. If the depression is severe, a psychiatrist may be asked to review medicine options.

Each person answers a different part of the question. Sharing reports between them, with your consent, means you do not have to tell your story from the start each time.

Assessment versus treatment

A useful way to think about it is that neuropsychologists mostly answer the question “what is happening with my thinking, and why?” Psychologists and counsellors mostly help with “how do I cope and feel better?” Psychiatrists focus on diagnosing mental illness and treating it medically. In practice, the roles overlap, and many psychologists also do assessments.

Which one should you see?

Here is a rough guide. Your situation may not fit neatly into one box, and that is common.

• Memory or thinking changes, a brain injury or a neurological condition: start with your GP, who may involve a neurologist, and consider a neuropsychologist for a detailed assessment.
• Questions about learning, attention or development in a child or adult: a psychologist or neuropsychologist can assess this, and a paediatrician or psychiatrist may be involved if medicine is considered.
• Stress, anxiety, low mood, grief or relationship problems: a psychologist or counsellor is often a good place to start.
• Severe or complex mental illness, or when medicine may help: see your GP about a referral to a psychiatrist.

If you ever feel unsafe or are thinking about harming yourself, call 000 if you are in danger. For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Invictus Health कैसे मदद कर सकता है

Our team includes psychologists, counsellors and neuropsychologists. We offer neuropsychology assessments, ADHD and autism assessments और counselling and psychology. You can book most assessments without a GP referral.

If you are not sure who to see, our find a practitioner page can help, or you can contact our team. This article is general information, so please talk with a qualified professional about your own situation.