["What do you think a psychiatrist's work is like … and what about a psychotherapist?"]

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.

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.

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.

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".