Clinical Psychology Controversy: Why Clinical Psychologists Should or Should Not Prescribe

Clinical Psychology Controversy
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A clear description of the controversy.
Since the year 2002, the American Psychological Association, in collaboration with several others state psychological associations attempted to make changes that would allow psychologists to prescribe psychiatric medications to their patients. Before these attempts, psychologists did not have the mandate to prescribe any medication to their patients since they did have the appropriate training that would allow them to prescribe medication. In March 2002, New Mexico was recognized as the first state to approve for psychologists to prescribe medication (Pomerantz, 2019). However, for psychologists to be authorized to prescribe, they were required by the law (HB 170) to acquire a two-year license to prescribe under physician supervision.
Background of the Controversy
Many people need help understanding the main difference and the relationship between psychiatry and other mental health professions, such as psychology. However, the main difference between medical doctors and psychologists is that psychiatrists have the authority to prescribe medications to their patients while on the other hand, while psychologists cannot prescribe. Therefore, the role of psychiatrists is to diagnose illnesses, manage them through prescriptions, and provide different therapies for managing complex and serious mental illnesses. On the other hand, psychologists only provide psychotherapy by talking to their patients to help them overcome their challenges.
The debate has gained considerable attention, especially in the past two decades, first in North America and, more recently, in the United Kingdom (Lavoie & Barone, 2006). The fact that psychiatrists have the authority to prescribe medication to their patients while psychologists cannot have created many controversies. On one side is a group that advocates that since psychiatrists and psychologists are in the same field and dealing with similar challenges, psychologists should also be authorized to prescribe medications. On the other side, those in opposition argue that very serious risks are likely to happen if psychologists are allowed to prescribe. The paper will discuss the controversy by analyzing why clinical psychologists should be authorized to prescribe medication and the reasons against the authorization of medication privileges. The paper will also discuss the recommendations that help address the challenges arising from the authorization of medication privileges.
Why is this topic controversial?
As mentioned above, the topic is controversial because some people argue that psychologists do not have the necessary training that is required for them to be approved to prescribe. Some people feel like authorizing psychologists to prescribe would increase the scope of the practice of the psychologists, which needed to be properly covered in their training (Pomerantz, 2019). On the other side, proponents argue that authorizing psychologists to prescribe would enhance mental health services by increasing public access to qualified professionals who will help them overcome their challenges.
Several issues arise from the privilege of medication controversy...