Siquiatra

Siquiatra
 

The word "siquiatra" is used in my workbook. (The sentence is: Explique Ud. este problema a su siquiatra.) My usual go-to-first dictionary doesn't even recognize the word. RAE says that it's "psiquiatra" (in English, "psychiatrist"). The Tomisimo dictionary says both "psychiatrist" and "alienist" (which I have never even heard of before ... had to go to an English dictionary to find even that word!).

My question is if this word is commonly used? Or is "psiquiatra" much more common? Do both "siquiatra" and "psiquiatra" both use the "-a" ending, even for male psychiatrists?

Thank you!

Both words are used, but you will probably find it with p more often like psicólogo etc...
el psiquiatra la psiquiatra
el psicólogo la psicóloga

But there is a huge difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist (in English). Isn't there the same distinction between "psiquiatra" and "psicólogo" in Spanish?

Of course, they were examples of words with p or s at the beginning of word, the difference is the same.

To study Psquiatry in Spain you need to go to university for 6 years and then 3 years of speciality
for psicology you only need 5 years.

Ok - I understand. Thank you!!