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> Let psychologists prescribe common, low-risk psych drugs (instead of scarcer psychiatrists), What the hell? No, there's no way you want a psychologist to be
by chimeracoder 9y ago
> Let psychologists prescribe common, low-risk psych drugs (instead of scarcer psychiatrists),
What the hell? No, there's no way you want a psychologist to be prescribing medication. They receive absolutely no medical training whatsoever.
If you want psychiatric drugs without going to a psychiatrist, find a GP or NP. They're at least trained to practice medicine, even if they're not specifically trained in psychiatry.
- didgeoridoo 9y agoYou probably should not get psychiatric drugs from a GP or NP without first being assessed by a psychologist. While GPs have meds training, they aren’t trained in how medication fits into a larger psychological treatment plan to actually address the underlying issue. This is equivalent to demanding OxyContin from your GP for a recurring knee problem, rather than seeing an orthopedist to find out what’s actually wrong.
- chimeracoder 9y ago> You probably should not get psychiatric drugs from a GP or NP without first being assessed by a psychologist. While GPs have meds training, they aren’t trained in how medication fits into a larger psychological treatment plan to actually address the underlying issue. I'm not telling anyone to do anything, but the idea of going to a psychologist for prescription drugs is beyond ridiculous. > This is equivalent to demanding OxyContin from your GP for a recurring knee problem It's worse - it's like demanding Oxycontin from your personal trainer at the gym. At least your GP went to medical school and did residency training.
- didgeoridoo 9y agoI think you missed my point. I’m not saying psychologists should prescribe meds. I’m saying that medicating psychological problems should not be done in the absence of an appropriate diagnosis of those problems. This can be done only by a psychiatrist or psychologist (edit: and most psychiatrists aren’t trained in testing either, and will generally refer you to a testing psychologist if they think your problems are complex in nature). GPs and NPs do not have appropriate training in diagnosis.
- yequalsx 9y agoMy wife is a psychiatrist. She doesn't prescribe drugs to people with psychological problems. She prescribes drugs to people with psychiatric problems. She's been trained to know the difference. The PA that works under her has been similarly trained. But he doesn't understand the non-psychiatric medicine part that patients often times have.
- didgeoridoo 9y agoThat’s a good way of putting it — “psychiatric” vs. “psychological”, being able to know the difference, and treat appropriately.
- JamesBarney 9y agoWhat is the difference between a psychological and psychiatric problem? I've never seen these terms used in the same context you used them anywhere in medicine.
- yequalsx 9y agoHallucinations are generally a pyschiatric problem. Being manic/depressive is a pyschiatric problem. Being a jerk isn't. Having a hard time saying saying no isn't. There are gray areas. As a rough approximation, where drugs can help it's psychiatric, where they can't it's psychological.
- JamesBarney 9y agoIf they develop a drug that keeps you from being a jerk does it become a psychiatric problem?
- yequalsx 9y agoIf it the jerk state is the result of a chemical/biological problem in the brain then yes.
- JamesBarney 9y agoWhich part of this workflow does 4-6 years of schooling, and an internship not prepare you for? Counselor: Here's a medical questionnaire used to assess depression. Yep you sound depressed. Here's a script for Celexa.
- mcguire 9y agohttps://www.drugs.com/sfx/celexa-side-effects.html https://www.drugs.com/sfx/celexa-side-effects.html Also, https://www.drugs.com/dosage/celexa.html https://www.drugs.com/dosage/celexa.html
- DanBC 9y agoDrug interactions and contra indications. For you example: > Counselor: Here's a medical questionnaire used to assess depression. > Yep you sound depressed. How do you know it's not bipolar? (Your medication choice just caused severe harm).
- neurotech1 9y agoThere are Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, who can and do prescribe psych meds. I agree that letting psychologists prescribe meds is problematic due to lack of medical training, even though clinical psychologists have a PhDs or PsyD.