Doubt: can psychologists prescribe medicine?

Hello friends!

I received, by email, a question from a dear reader of the site. She wrote to us: “I would like to clarify a doubt; a UFMG professor talked about a “post psychology” course that would guarantee the psychologist prescribes medicine, would guarantee him many of the functions of a psychiatrist. I couldn’t delve into the conversation, but I’m researching the subject. I still didn’t get any answer, just the word of a professor who assured that there is a way that is already in use to reconcile psychology and psychiatry. Could you tell me something about it?”

Well, for all I know, my quick answer would be that it doesn’t exist. Psychology professionals cannot prescribe psychiatric medications. However, as it costs nothing to investigate and try to find out if there has been any change, I decided to look. After all, the information is that a professor from a renowned educational institution in Brazil, UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), had said about this novelty.

post in psychiatry

The first path I investigated was about postgraduate courses (stricto sensu or broad sense) that interconnect psychology with psychiatry, neurology, pharmacology (or psychopharmacology). In many of them, it is a fact that psychology professionals can enroll.

This really raises the question. Could a psychology professional, with a postgraduate degree in psychiatry, neurology, psychopharmacology, prescribe medication to help his patients?

The answer is no.

On the postgraduate sites in these areas, I saw that enrollment is a possibility for those who have a degree in psychology – in most cases – but this evidently does not give the right to attend with techniques not studied in graduation.

Note well: in the faculty of psychology we learn psychology. Although we also learn anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, pharmacology, these contents (which do not last even one semester) are insufficient to evaluate, diagnose, prescribe or change psychiatric medications. Because the training is focused on the evaluation, diagnosis and techniques psychotherapeutic and non-pharmacological.

In the same way, we study statistics, but we don’t leave college with the competence to carry out complicated statistical work, just as we don’t leave psychology faculty as philosophers or sociologists, despite the disciplines of these faculties.

I also asked my colleagues from the page Psicologistas e Psicologias do Brasil, on facebook, but they all didn’t know if this news would be possible.

The response of the Federal Council of Psychology

However, I remained curious. What if this possibility of a powder for prescribing medication were real and I – like many fellow psychology professionals – just weren’t aware of it?

Therefore, as is always indicated, I made a point of asking the Guidance and Inspection sector of the Federal Council of Psychology.

The answer was as follows:

“Dear Felipe,

We inform you that the prescription of medicines is a private attribution of medicine and not a psychological technique; thus, the prescription can be characterized as an illegal exercise of the profession. This post offered is probably open to health professionals as knowledge and not practice.

In addition to the above, the Psychologist’s Code of Professional Ethics in your Art. 1 – These are fundamental duties of psychologistsstates:

(…) c) Provide quality psychological services, in dignified working conditions appropriate to the nature of these services, using principles, knowledge and techniques recognized as grounded in psychological science, ethics and professional legislation;

Still,

Art. 2 – The psychologist is forbidden to:

(…) f) Provide services or link the title of psychologist to psychological care services whose procedures, techniques and means are not regulated or recognized by the profession;

Yours sincerely,

Andréia Saturnino, Tax Psychologist CRP 04/22984

Conclusion

Therefore, it is concluded that psychology professionals cannot prescribe medication. Perhaps, what may have happened, it was a misunderstanding. After all, we can do postgraduate courses in certain faculties linked to medicine and health to know more. However, we have to know how to separate the knowledge that can help in the practices of psychology from the knowledge that provides a practical basis for other areas of activity such as medicine, pharmacy, among others.

Finally, I would like to point out that psychology professionals also do not prescribe Bach remedies or homeopathies.

However, to make it completely clear, a professional can have two professions. In Brazil, nothing prevents a person from having two or more professions.

For example, you may have taken a Homeopathy Course at the Federal University of Viçosa and have another profession. However, you will have to separate the two practices: the practice of psychology is one thing and the practice of homeopathy is another (just like taking a Bach Flower Remedies course) and, ultimately, even if it is the case of having two degrees, one in psychology and the other in medicine/psychiatry.

As a psychiatrist, you will be able to prescribe the drugs you deem necessary. As a doctor, he will be able to prescribe the medications he deems necessary. But as a psychologist, he must adhere to the rules of the Federal Council of Psychology.

Questions, suggestions, comments, please write below!

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