According to my past lawyer who checked out the situation when the caseworker was going to have me mandated to see a psychiatrist for psychotropic (antidepressants and so forth) Both psychiatrists and medical doctors in the united states have the same credentials for a full range of medications. If that was not so when we went to court on the issue the judge would have mandated me to see the psychiatrist. But since both were EQUALLY qualified in medication needs the judge denied the caseworkers request. In the past when I saw a psychiatrist that psychiatrist was able to give me a prescription of tylenol w/ codine to hold me over until I saw my dentist, At that time he was also prescribing Tegratol which is used for a medical seizure problem but it is also used for psychotic disorders too. The jerk heard me say I hear voices and assumed without testing that I had schizophrenia) It is this cross over use of medication that is reason why psychiatrists in the United States are equally quallified as medical doctors for prescribing medication. Also any physician in the united states must keep up with any and all medications for both medical and psychotropic. If they did not they would not have their license for dispensing and writing prescriptions. Just like clinical social workers physicians licenses expire and they have to go through the renewal process and sometimes that includes testing to make sure the professional is up on all the present information.

Anyone who wants to switch their medication needs over to their primary physician all they need to do is sign a release of info form so that the physician can obtain the medication records that the psychiatrist keeps. The release of info sheet takes all of 3-5 minutes to fill out and then the physician faxes it to the psychiatrist. then its just a matter of how fast the psychiatrist sends the medication report. whenever I have done it, it has only taken a couple days.

Whether or not a physician prescribes psychotropic meds and whether or not a psychiatrist prescribes non psychotropic meds is a personal preference not based on qualifications.