US Medical Term · mental-health
Psychiatrist
Psiquiatra
What it means
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has special training in preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Because psychiatrists are medical doctors, they can prescribe medicine, and they are also one of several types of professionals who offer psychotherapy (talk therapy). A psychologist, by comparison, generally has a doctoral degree but not a medical degree, and cannot prescribe medicine without a special license. A primary care provider can do an initial mental health screening and refer a patient to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist.
Psychiatrist in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Psiquiatra
- Gender and article
- common gender (same form for both): el psiquiatra (masculine) / la psiquiatra (feminine); plural los / las psiquiatras
- Pronunciation
- see-KYAH-trah
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| siquiatra | General | Alternative spelling without the initial p, accepted by the RAE dictionary; psiquiatra is the headword form. |
| especialista en psiquiatría | General | Longer descriptive name given as an alternative by the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary. |
| alienista | General | Listed by the RAE dictionary as a synonym of psiquiatra. |
Psiquiatra ends in -a for everyone: the RAE dictionary marks it "m. y f.", so only the article changes (el psiquiatra, la psiquiatra, un / una psiquiatra). There is no form "psiquiatro". The initial p is part of the standard spelling, although the RAE also accepts siquiatra.
Do not confuse psiquiatra with psicólogo / psicóloga (psychologist). MedlinePlus en español describes the psiquiatra as a physician who specializes in mental health and can prescribe medicines, and the psicólogo as a professional who generally holds a doctorate but not a medical degree. The specialty itself is la psiquiatría (feminine).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I would like a referral to a psychiatrist. | Quisiera que me refiriera a un psiquiatra. |
| Clinician | How long have you been feeling this way? | ¿Desde cuándo se siente así? |
| Patient | I have been sleeping badly and I feel very anxious. | He estado durmiendo mal y siento mucha ansiedad. |
| Clinician | I am going to ask you some questions about your mood, your sleep, and your appetite. | Le voy a hacer algunas preguntas sobre su estado de ánimo, su sueño y su apetito. |
| Patient | What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist? | ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre un psiquiatra y un psicólogo? |
| Clinician | Has anyone in your family seen a psychiatrist? | ¿Alguien de su familia ha consultado a un psiquiatra? |
| Patient | My psychiatrist is a woman; she speaks Spanish. | Mi psiquiatra es mujer; la psiquiatra habla español. |
| Patient | Does the psychiatrist accept my insurance, and is an interpreter available? | ¿El psiquiatra acepta mi seguro y hay un intérprete disponible? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Psychiatrist |
| Spanish (Español) | Psiquiatra |
| Chinese (中文) | 精神科醫師 |
| Korean (한국어) | 정신과 의사 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bác sĩ tâm thần |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Psychiatrist |
| Portuguese (Português) | Psiquiatra |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | จิตแพทย์ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 精神科医 |
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Mental health
All terms in this area: Mental health — Salud mental
Sources
- Mental Health Screening — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine)
- Evaluación de salud mental — MedlinePlus en español (Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina)
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: psychiatrist — National Cancer Institute (NIH)
- Help for Mental Illnesses — National Institute of Mental Health (NIH)
- psiquiatra — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026