I’ve looked it up, but all of them essentially sound like the same thing to me. I’m aware that there’s probably some nuance, so that’s what I’m posting it here for.
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Where do physiatrists fit in?
Where do physiatrists fit in?
Soon-to-be neurologist in training here.
* Neurologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the nervous system, like MS, Parkinson’s, and strokes. Once you become a doctor, you have to undergo specialty training for ~5 years to be able to call yourself a neurologist.
* Neurosurgeons are surgeons (also a kind of doctor!) who have specialized in performing brain and spine surgery. They’re the ones who will actually open up your skull and cut out a brain tumor. Similarly, once you become a doctor, you have to undergo specialty training for 5-7 years to call yourself a neurosurgeon.
* Neuroscientist is just a general term for any researcher or scientist who studies the nervous system. Usually it’s used for people who work in labs or universities rather than medical doctors, even though some neurologists might do science research as well as treating patients.
* Neuropsychiatrist is a less commonly used term, and can mean different things to different people. A neuropsychiatrist is generally going to be a medical doctor, either a neurologist or a psychiatrist, who helps people with conditions that are somewhere between mental health conditions and neurological problems. Examples might be kinds of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, or the personality changes and depression that can happen with diseases like Parkinson’s.
I have personally never heard the word “encephalology,” although it makes sense as a term. I can only find it in old dictionaries from the early 20th century. I don’t think anyone would understand what you meant.
Soon-to-be neurologist in training here.
* Neurologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the nervous system, like MS, Parkinson’s, and strokes. Once you become a doctor, you have to undergo specialty training for ~5 years to be able to call yourself a neurologist.
* Neurosurgeons are surgeons (also a kind of doctor!) who have specialized in performing brain and spine surgery. They’re the ones who will actually open up your skull and cut out a brain tumor. Similarly, once you become a doctor, you have to undergo specialty training for 5-7 years to call yourself a neurosurgeon.
* Neuroscientist is just a general term for any researcher or scientist who studies the nervous system. Usually it’s used for people who work in labs or universities rather than medical doctors, even though some neurologists might do science research as well as treating patients.
* Neuropsychiatrist is a less commonly used term, and can mean different things to different people. A neuropsychiatrist is generally going to be a medical doctor, either a neurologist or a psychiatrist, who helps people with conditions that are somewhere between mental health conditions and neurological problems. Examples might be kinds of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, or the personality changes and depression that can happen with diseases like Parkinson’s.
I have personally never heard the word “encephalology,” although it makes sense as a term. I can only find it in old dictionaries from the early 20th century. I don’t think anyone would understand what you meant.
Using analogy in another field:
A neuroscientist is like a physiotherapist. They have trained in that field specifically, and are usually highly skilled, but not medical doctors.
Neurologists and neurosurgeons are medical doctors, like sports physicians and orthopaedic surgeons.
Neurosurgeons are like orthopaedic surgeons. They cut. They work out if surgery is needed and do it if so. If not, they usually don’t have an ongoing management role.
Neurologists are like sports physicians. They don’t do surgery, but do the other care that you doesn’t need surgery. Think Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy (without a surgical cure) etc.
Using analogy in another field:
A neuroscientist is like a physiotherapist. They have trained in that field specifically, and are usually highly skilled, but not medical doctors.
Neurologists and neurosurgeons are medical doctors, like sports physicians and orthopaedic surgeons.
Neurosurgeons are like orthopaedic surgeons. They cut. They work out if surgery is needed and do it if so. If not, they usually don’t have an ongoing management role.
Neurologists are like sports physicians. They don’t do surgery, but do the other care that you doesn’t need surgery. Think Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy (without a surgical cure) etc.
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It gets even more nuanced for neurologists: neuromuscular, headache, sleep disorder etc etc
It gets even more nuanced for neurologists: neuromuscular, headache, sleep disorder etc etc
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