Psychiatric social worker refers to a mental health professional trained to apply social science principles to help patients in clinics and hospitals. Psychiatric social workers, likewise, refers to mental health professionals trained in psychiatric diagnosis and in individual and group psychotherapy. Compared to psychologists and psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers' training is relatively brief, limited to a 2-year master's degree. Social workers are intensely involved in the day-to-day lives of their patients and focus more on the social and environmental factors contributing to their patients' difficulties.