A major distinction between psychologists and psychiatrists as expert witnesses comes from their educational backgrounds. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who have completed medical school and residency in psychiatry, making them experts in diagnosing and treating mental disorders through a medical lens. This allows them to speak authoritatively on issues related to the biological or neurochemical aspects of mental health, often focusing on how psychiatric medications or illnesses affect behavior. Psychologists, who typically hold a Ph.D. or Psy.D., are not medical doctors. Instead, their expertise lies in therapy, assessment, and research, giving them a deep understanding of behavioral and cognitive patterns. Their training prepares them to perform detailed psychological evaluations, often using standardized tests to assess mental capacity or emotional states.