Explain the THREE reasons described in the text for giving psychologists prescription privileges

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Psychologists propose several reasons for prescription privileges. First, many psychologists have hospital admitting privileges, treating the emotional features or reactions that accompany or are the result of physical health problems such as stress, cancer, and heart disease. These psychologists view the ability to write prescriptions as a natural extension of their practice. Second, graduate programs in clinical psychology already offer courses in psychophysiology and psychopharmacology — courses that are necessary, but not sufficient, for prescribing medication. Therefore, psychologists already have some of the training necessary for prescribing medications. Third, because medications are the treatment of choice for some disorders, such as schizophrenia, prescription privileges would allow psychologists to treat patients who might not have access to treatment. Many people lack access to psychiatrists and get their medication from general practitioners, who are much less knowledgeable about psychological disorders than psychologists. Allowing psychologists to prescribe medications would guarantee treatment by someone with specialized knowledge of abnormal behavior.