DO vs MD Psychiatrist: What Is the Difference

Two degrees, one profession

If you have seen "DO" after a psychiatrist's name and wondered what it means, you are not alone. The short answer is reassuring: a DO is a physician, just like an MD. Both are medical doctors, both can specialize in psychiatry, and both can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medicine.

According to MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a physician licensed to practice medicine, perform surgery and prescribe medicine. The difference is mostly in the path through medical school, not in what the doctor is allowed to do.

What is the same

MedlinePlus explains that, like MDs, osteopathic physicians complete four years of medical school and can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. DOs who wish to specialize can become board certified in the same manner as MDs, by completing a residency in that specialty, often side by side with MDs, and passing the same board certification exams.

For psychiatry in particular, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lists the degree requirement as either a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, plus completion of residency training in psychiatry. Either way, a psychiatrist is a licensed physician in the state where they practice.

• Both are licensed physicians.
• Both can complete a psychiatry residency and practice as psychiatrists.
• Both can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe and monitor medication.
• Both use the same medical treatments.

What osteopathic training adds

Osteopathic medical schools add extra study in hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system, called osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), according to MedlinePlus. Osteopathic physicians are taught to consider how a person's history of illness and physical trauma can affect the body as a whole.

MedlinePlus notes that osteopathic physicians use the same medical and surgical treatments as other medical doctors, but may also bring a whole-person approach taught during their training, and use OMT if indicated. In a psychiatric setting, hands-on treatment is not usually part of a visit, and it is not part of video care. What may carry over is the outlook: paying attention to how sleep, physical health, stress and daily life fit together with mood and thinking.

A whole-person outlook is not reserved for DOs, either. The letters after a name tell you less about how a doctor works than a first conversation with them will.

Licensing in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania licenses the two kinds of physicians through two separate boards in the Department of State. The State Board of Medicine regulates the practice of medicine through licensure, registration, certification and discipline. The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine does the same for osteopathic physicians and surgeons.

This matters mostly if you want to look up a doctor's license. If your psychiatrist is a DO, their license will be with the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine; if they are an MD, it will be with the State Board of Medicine. Both boards hold their physicians to professional standards and can discipline those who fall short.

What to look for in a psychiatrist

Since DOs and MDs can both become psychiatrists and provide the same kinds of psychiatric care, the degree is rarely the deciding factor. These questions often matter more:

• Are they licensed in the state where you will be during visits?
• Do they see patients by video, and how do follow-up visits work?
• Do they have experience with concerns like yours?
• Do they explain their thinking and invite your questions?
• Can they coordinate with your therapist or primary care provider, with your permission?

How we can help

The psychiatrist on our team is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who has practiced psychiatry for over three decades and trained in general psychiatry. He offers psychiatric care and medication management by secure video for people physically located in Pennsylvania during each visit, and is open to new patients and referrals. A psychiatric evaluation can be where care begins.

Our therapists see clients by secure video in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Arizona, Colorado or Florida and do not prescribe; outside Pennsylvania, medication questions go to your own prescriber. Coverage depends on your plan, so ask us to check your benefits, and see insurance and fees. You can read about our team or reach out through our booking page.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.