Why can't psychologists prescribe medication?
Question:
Answers:
Because they are not trained to. Psychologists are PhDs, not MDs like psychiatrists; only the latter are trained and allowed to prescribe medicines.
Other Answers:
Because they aren't medical doctors.
no medical degree (which includes pharmacology)
Because they do not hold a licence to administer medications.
Because they do not have an MD (medical doctor) degree.
because they didnt go to school to study what medicine should be used to treat what. that takes a lot longer in college and a different degree as well.
lots of medications have serious side effects. Without proper medical training, and an understanding of patient reactions to perscriptions, potentially they could kill someone or make them much sicker.
They are not licensed to prescribe medication. PSYCHIATRISTS, on the other hand, do prescribe medication.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatrist
Because the arent MD's which mean they dont have a medical doctors agree. They only have phds saying they went to school to be a psychologist.
yeah, Just like everyone already said before. We wanna know more of what goes on in your head rather than your biological situation! unless your a firm BioPhycologist.
Thank God they cannot!
Medication may push you even deeper into the depression hole.
Loads of side-effects. everything.
unless they have been to medical school ..forget it!
In some states, like New Mexico, where psychiatrists are in short supply, psychologists can prescribe medication with extra training and certification.
The reason why psychologists can't prescribe is that they do not receive the breadth of training that a psychiatrist receives. Psychologists do take courses in biological psychology, neurology (sometimes) and psychpharmacology. However, they don't really learn enough to safely prescribe meds after 3 semesters.
One of the arguments to support prescribing privileges is that as many as 70% of all psychotropic medications are prescribed by general practitioners, who are highly trained, but receive minimal training in psychopathology and psychpharmacology. So, if a gp can prescribe with minimal training, why not a psychologist with more training?
I've included a good article if I am not explaining myself clearly.
because they are trained to deal with the sociological aspect of behaviors and not medical..they talk problems out, whereas psychiatrists prescribe medication
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