Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that diagnoses, treats, and studies mental illness and behavioral conditions. While all physicians will encounter patients with mental illnesses and any of them may treat it, psychiatrists specialize in these areas, being more extensively trained in the differential diagnosis (distinguishing various forms) and treatment of mental illness and are professionally required to keep up to date on the newest developments in the field of mental illness. Additionally psychologists, nurse practitioners, and social workers can provide psychiatric care though of these only the nurse practitioners may prescribe medication.

Contrast with psychology

Psychiatry is practiced by psychiatrists, medical doctors and Advanced Practice Psychiatri Nurse Practitioners specializing in mental illness who may prescribe drugs. Psychiatrists evaluate patients from a biopsychosocial perspective before prescribing treatment. In contrast, psychology is the broader study of human behaviour and thought processes, not just in the context of mental health. Clinical psychologists specialize in mental health and have extensive training in psychotherapy and psychological testing.

Related Topics:
Medical doctor - Drugs - Psychology - Clinical psychologists

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Psychologists are generally not allowed to prescribe medications in the United States (exceptions have been made in the Department of Defense, Guam, New Mexico, and Louisiana, but the psychologist must complete a postdoctoral training program in clinical psychopharmacology and practicum, and pass a licensing examination prior to doing so.) The turf battle over prescribing privileges is ongoing in the U.S. A significant subset of psychologists argue that there is an inadequate number of psychiatrists to treat all of the nation's psychiatricaly ill and that focused education in psychopharmacology is adequate to provide expert medication management. The American Psychiatric Association has long argued that psychologists lack the medical training to make the sometimes difficult diagnostic and therapeutic decisions that accompany the pharmacologic treatment of the seriously mentally ill.

Related Topics:
Psychopharmacology - American Psychiatric Association

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