[Nobodyandnothing]

Citing the lack of psychiatrists, the Illinois General Assembly is considering a change in law to allow some psychologists with advanced training to prescribe medications. According to testimony today, there are only two states that currently allow this. What do you all think? Personally, I would have trouble with this for myself. My pdoc has worked hard to try to come up with meds to help me. I have treatment resistant depression. I am also afraid at some point insurers would force patients to see a less costly psychologist instead of a psychiatrist.

If anyone is interested, I will follow this piece of legislation and keep you updated. The bill did clear its first hurdle in a legislative committee unanimously despite opposition.

[NOS-NOS]

I would hate to be forced to see another psychologist instead of my psychiatrist. Fact is, I don't trust anyone else when it comes to my meds and my mind. Training is one thing, but it's no substitute for solid experience prescribing these drugs, which my pdoc has. I live in NY though.

[agma]

I think as long as I was stable on meds, I would prefer that my psychologist be able to prescribe refills, so I would not have to pay for both my psychiatrist and psychologist. Also, i am more comfortable with my psychologist, and she knows me better. My psychologist and I talked about them being able to prescribe meds (she brought it up in casual conversation while she was scheduling my next appointment), and she said she absolutely does NOT want any part of prescribing meds.

[Crashed Again]

agma, I thing it would work good for refills as you stated not having to see the psch DR for just refills, but for the actual prescribing my meds as to what the doc thinks I need. I want to leave that to my p DR.

[onionknight]

Oh hey, I live in Illinois. I'm not sure how I feel about this...

[noodles89]

As an aspiring Illinois psychologist, I would love to be able to prescribe meds. If I had enough training, I think I could handle it. I've had bad experiences with psychiatrists being quacks sometimes, and feel like my therapist knows my brain and body better than someone who talks to me for 15 minutes and then throws meds at me. I think there should be restrictions though. Some meds and conditions should only be given out/treated by a psychiatrist. I'm curious to see how this works out. Does anyone know if it's worked out well in New Mexico and Louisiana?

-Heather

[shortandcute]

I would kind of have mixed feelings about this myself.