Do psychologists make recommendations to other doctors to write a perscription for their patients?

Question

Or would one have to see a psychiatrist to get medication as well as psychotherapy?

Answer 1

No. It is recommended you see a psychiatrist for medication for psych problems. Generally, you would see a psychologist or LCSW for long term therapy. A Dr. does not accept recommendations to write RXs. They are required to examine you first, by law, before writing a Rx.

Answer 2

Psychologists are not MD's. It is illegal for them to practice medicine without a license and that includes "recommendations" for medication. What they do is refer a patient to a psychiatrist and send along a Report of Findings including a diagnosis and other relevant information. The Psychiatrist then does his own assessment and creates a drug (sometimes other medical treatments like ECT) treatment plan that works with the psychologist's treatment plan. It is inappropriate to refer a patient to a primary care MD instead of a psychiatrist although it is done all the time. Actually, the usual sequence of events is that a patient seeks care for their condition from their primary care physician who writes them a script for medications and refers them to a psychologist. Although, legally, an MD can do this, it is a bad idea. Psychotropic medications are a specialty and few non psychiatrists have the training or experience to prescribe these effectively, especially if the mental illness is serious (ie schizophrenia as opposed to an anxiety disorder). Further, primary care MDs aren't trained to work in conjuntion with a therapist while psychiatrists are.

I throw the terms therapist and psychologist around pretty loosely. Perhaps I shouldn't. The ONLY professionals who are qualified to treat mental illness are Licensed Clinical Psychologists. That's a person with either a PhD in Clinical Psychology or a PsyD from an accredited university, who has taken that states licensure exam. It's a legally protected term (for good reason). For every one of these there are hundreds of jackasses who call themselves psychologists, therapists, psychotherapists, counselors etc. These are definitely not qualified to treat mental illness. Their baliwick is case management, at best. Many are hanging out a shingle and treating and that just isn't going to help a person who has a mental illness at all. Mostly what they do is talk to people and collect a fee. Effective therapy, by contrast, is pretty specific (and very effective). These people ain't doing that, however. If you have a mental illness (depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders make up the lion's share of these), than the way to effectively get treated is to work with a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and perhaps comanage your case with a Psychiatrist.

Answer 3

There are a few psychologists that prescribe meds, but most still don't have the authority to do that so they send you to a psychiatrist. More and more states are allowing Psychologists write RX's. I think I would trust a Psychiatrist more if you need meds or pyschotherapy. Most have had extensive training in this area.

Answer 4

the psychologist can prescribe the medication. They are doctors. Psychotherapy is always recommended because that makes them more money. If you need to talk to someone, find a close friend. It's cheaper. Medication definately helps with depression issues.

Answer 5

Today, most therapists do the counseling and the doc (psychiatrist) just writes the rx on their recommendations. Kinda sucks, huh? Godloveya.

Answer 6

I have had it both ways, but it is better to see a psychiatrist because these medications often require changes in dose and are often used in combination with other meds.

Answer 7

JUST LAST WEEK MY PSHYCOLOGIST CALLED MY DOCTOR FOR A CHANGE IN MY MEDS