Medication versus Psychoanalysis

[albertwhatjob]

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I am actually only someone seriously considering medical school (I'm 25) because I enjoy listenting to people with problems and trying to help them solve it with just words. I've never really experienced a medical aspect of that so I'm not sure if that would suit me. It sounds I would be more fitted for clinical psychology than psychiatry since psychiatry, as I understand it, differs from clinical psychology in that they can dispense medicine and are more concerned with medical treatment than they are with psychotherapy. Is this true? Do I have to have a "passion" for medicine and drugs to be a psychiatrist? Please help! I'm at my quarter life crisis and I want to begin a career that is meaningful.

Thanks for any advice. I've thorougly enjoyed and learned a lot from these discussions already.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I am actually only someone seriously considering medical school (I'm 25) because I enjoy listenting to people with problems and trying to help them solve it with just words. I've never really experienced a medical aspect of that so I'm not sure if that would suit me. It sounds I would be more fitted for clinical psychology than psychiatry since psychiatry, as I understand it, differs from clinical psychology in that they can dispense medicine and are more concerned with medical treatment than they are with psychotherapy. Is this true? Do I have to have a "passion" for medicine and drugs to be a psychiatrist? Please help! I'm at my quarter life crisis and I want to begin a career that is meaningful.

Thanks for any advice. I've thorougly enjoyed and learned a lot from these discussions already.

It is true in general that psychiatrists "can dispense medicine and are more concerned with medical treatment than they are with psychotherapy", although a big part of what we do draws on our therapy skills. If you HATE medicine and drugs, you might do well to stick with clinical psych. However, you'll find that a LOT of your patients do a WHOLE lot better in therapy if their brain chemistry is "adjusted" a little. Psychiatry can also be a great career for the late-bloomer in medicine, because the lifestyle is much more relaxed for us old folks. Plus, I like to believe I've accumulated a little bit of life experience (or is that just dust?) to pass along...

 

[albertwhatjob]

However, you'll find that a LOT of your patients do a WHOLE lot better in therapy if their brain chemistry is "adjusted" a little.

So I'm assuming psychiatrists do the "adjusting" you're speaking of by prescribing drugs. But after the adjustment happens, do they do therapy with the psychiatrist or do they then go to a clinical pscyhologist. In other words, when do pscyhiatrists do psychotherapy, if ever?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge..but thanks for your input.

 

[Anasazi23]

It completely depends on the psychiatrist in question. Many do lots of therapy...many do very little. It depends on how your practice is set up, your office setting vs hospital environment, your patient base, etc.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

So I'm assuming psychiatrists do the "adjusting" you're speaking of by prescribing drugs. But after the adjustment happens, do they do therapy with the psychiatrist or do they then go to a clinical pscyhologist. In other words, when do pscyhiatrists do psychotherapy, if ever?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge..but thanks for your input.

In the setting where I work ( a large group practice), about half of my medication patients are also seeing a therapist--usually a CSW or psychologist, and usually for a more time limited therapy, like cognitive behavioral, etc. So it's usually mnore or less concurrent. Sometimes one of the therapists has a client who he/she thinks needs meds, so they refer them to me. Sometimes my patient needs a bit more therapy than I can do in a med check time slot, so I refer to them. I like to think that my interactions with patients are peppered with therapeutc insight, however. 🙂 I also do inpatient work, so I end up working on a lot of problem-solving, etc. with patients.

 

[50960]

Also, do not think that a career in psychology as opposed to psychiatry means you do not need to know and understand medications VERY well. I am aware that many psychologists do not, and in my opinion this is completely unacceptable. It is no secret that I feel every licensed psychologist should have a minimum of an RN level of medical knowledge to practice in this day and age. There are many reasons for this opinion, so pop over to the psychology forum and we can discuss them.

😉

 

[worriedwell]

Its late at night so I thought I could get away with having the gall to ask this question to psisci...

Why does your avatar have that surgeon on it? I just stereotype the people with it to be surgeons, future surgeons, or surgeon types. As a psychologist, why did you choose it, if you don't mind my asking?

Also, do not think that a career in psychology as opposed to psychiatry means you do not need to know and understand medications VERY well. I am aware that many psychologists do not, and in my opinion this is completely unacceptable. It is no secret that I feel every licensed psychologist should have a minimum of an RN level of medical knowledge to practice in this day and age. There are many reasons for this opinion, so pop over to the psychology forum and we can discuss them.

😉