["What do you think a psychiatrist's work is like … and what about a psychotherapist?"].
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the public's perceptions of what mental health professionals' work is like. This, however, may be of interest as it is likely to influence people's help seeking behavior.


METHODS
In Spring 2009, a telephone survey was conducted in the city of Vienna, using a quota sample of 1205 people aged 16 years and over. With the help of two open ended questions respondents' ideas about what the work of psychiatrists and psychotherapists is like were explored.


RESULTS
Apart from some similarities, there are, in the public's view, a number of differences between both mental health professions. While psychiatrists are making the diagnosis, using primarily medication and treating more severe forms of mental disorder, psychotherapists are talking with patients and taking care of problems of life. Psychotherapists enjoy a better reputation than psychiatrists. While the work of psychotherapists is mostly positively evaluated, that of psychiatrists is mainly negatively seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Although public views of the work of psychiatrists and psychotherapists are rather undifferentiated, they correspond with the real situation in important aspects. Obviously, psychotherapists enjoy greater acceptance, being considered a "softer type of psychiatrists".
Holzinger
Anita
A
Klinik für Psychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Österreich. anita.holzinger@meduniwien.ac.at
Matschinger
Herbert
H
Drexler
Viktoria
V
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D011570:Psychiatry; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011639:Public Opinion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs