I had almost this exact conversation a couple weeks ago with a friend of mine who is a highly recognized psychologist. We got talking about medicating for ADHD

I had almost this exact conversation a couple weeks ago with a friend of mine who is a highly recognized psychologist. We got talking about medicating for ADHD and anxiety (I have a friend who is struggling with her son in this department). Basically, you are right, psychiatrists could make more money doing therapy, but therapy is more for psychologists and not psychiatrists. Most psychiatrists make money off of volume of patients. So it is in their best interest to prescribe more and consult less. The more patients that come through their office and they prescribe meds to the more money they make. He used the example of the psychiatry department at the public hospital next door to his office. On average, one doctor in that office can see upwards of 30 patients a day. With my friend, he can see at most 6 patients a day. For my friend though, as a psychologist doing one-on-one therapy he can charge more and see less patients. In regards to medicating versus therapy, like many other things, people react differently to different things. Some individuals may do better with therapy over meds and vice-versa. The downside of meds is that typically becomes a lifetime treatment. Therapy on the other hand, when it works, is easier to reduce over time (although most people will continue, even at a significantly reduced interval).