Hmm. I really am afraid to touch this topic :P You can look at it either way, Physiology has been called one of the most useless majors and a lot of people in the hard sciences look down on social sciences and psychology in general. On the other hand, physiology majors do have to study the brain and take classes about cognitive activity, in my university they also have to take bio courses, statistics and classes such as genes and diseases and drugs and behavior are offered as electives. Plus psychology is being added to the new MCAT (post 2013 MCATS I believe). So there is scientific basis in some areas of those fields of study, they rest it is up to you to say whether or not you think it makes sense or it’s just poppycock. Psychiatry is actually a medical specialty where one is allowed to prescribe drugs and treatment options for mental illness, it leaves way less up to the devices of one’s own prejudices because of it’s academic prerequisites and the fact that you actually have to go to medical school to be a psychiatrist. I will never discount the importance of either career because the state of mental health and the treatment of those with mental health issues is horrendous the world over we need all the help we can get and people who really care for those with mental health issues! :)