Do you think psychologists should be able to prescribe medicine?
By solracselbor
@solracselbor (19)
United States
March 20, 2007 2:24am CST
I personally think psychologists are entitled to prescribing medication. There is already a thining in professions between psychologists and psychiatrists. Plus, psychologists can already prescribe in New Mexico and Louisianna, and there is no sign of malice or mistake made by these, now called, Medical Psychologists.
I know people may say that they shouldnt be able to becuase they dont go to med school. But did you know that in order to get presicription privileges they must take 2 years of psychopharmachology? Thats a full extra masters degree on top of a Ph.D
Whats your opinion?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@shogunly (1397)
• Libya
20 Mar 07
Psichiatry is not just about studying and prescribing medicine ! It's about how the psyche interacts with the body as a whole and its an extensive study of ABNORMAL behaviour , psycology is MAINLY about theory and normal patterns and thoughts and behaviour , although there is such a thing as abnormal psycology , it's not the same as psichiatry . Psycology is mainly about why you think a particular thought . Psychiatry is about whether that thought is normal or not and what to do next .
@shogunly (1397)
• Libya
21 Mar 07
I believe a psychiatrist is more concerned with the organic aspect of the disease . The psycologist is concerned with the abstract thought process aspect . Also a psychiatrist studied anatomy , physiology etc of the WHOLE body , knowledge which is important for both understanding differencial diagnoses for a particular presentation ( psychosis in Cushing disease , depression in hypothyroidism etc) , but also to be able to make a good judgement on what medicine to use and how it will affect the patient's condition AND the body as a whole .
@Pisces420 (41)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I think they should be required to take calsses in prescribing medications. Really, the only difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is the fact that one can hand out meds and the other cannot. What's a couple extra years in school so they can both prescribe?
@Zmugzy (773)
•
20 Mar 07
I have just completed a degree in psychology here in England and I was going to respond by sayiing that they shouldn't be allowed to prescribe medicinea because its not part of there degree or training. However if as you say that they complete two years of study in psychopharmachology then I think that should be enough of a qualification to do so.
