[Secretum]

I am really passionate about mental health. For about the past year, I have planned to go to med school to become a psychiatrist. The problem is that I would like to do therapy, and while I know that psychiatrists can be therapists, I also know that their training in that area is increasingly becoming limited. I also would like to do research (split my time between research and practice), and I know that PhD psychologists also have a stronger research background than MDs.

For the past few days, I have considered psychology instead of psychiatry, but I feel like I can't sacrifice the understanding of the human body that I would obtain as an MD student. I also have other, less honorable reasons to want to be a physician-prestige, higher salary, ability to prescribe drugs, etc.

I know that most universities have MD/PhD programs, and that some of these programs will allow students to study psychology. I think that this is what I would like to do. The problem is that it would take me forever to graduate. I've also done an internet search on MD/PhD psych, and most people seem to agree that it would be a "waste" to obtain two clinical degrees.

So, what do you all think? Should I pursue an MD, a PhD in clinical psych, or both? Would you see a clinician who was both a psychiatrist and a psychologist? Thanks.

Secretum, Sorry I don't know about any of this, just wanted to say I would rather see a clinician who was both a psychiatrist and a psychologist, very much so.

I hope you can figure out what road you want to take.

[di meliora]

I think you should do what YOU want to do. I sense you know what you want to do. Do not let others define you. Go for it.

As an aside, there is a blogger at Psychology Today who holds doctorates in English and Psychology.

[Eliza Jane]

You'd probably get the most constructive replies to this thread if you posted it in the Student-Doctor Network forum. There is a link to the PhD/PsyD forum at the bottom of the psychcentral boards under "students in psychology." It is my understanding that SDN also offers pages for medical students. If I were you, I would post my question to both the psych and med students. They should give you interesting (and varied!)feedback.

You also might want to consider combinations such as Psychologist-Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatrist-MSW. I know there is at least one (if not 2 or 3) Pyschologist-NP who posts on the the psych forum.

Best,
EJ

[Oxidopamine]

I've also been debating this same issue, although for me it was neurology vs neuroscience, neuropsychology or rehabilitation sciences. Ultimately, I opted for the Master's in the field of medical science, physiology, kinesiology and neuroscience programs because there is a heavy overlap. Several of the graduate supervisors who agreed to take me are MDs or work in a hospital research lab (i.e. pediatrics, imaging, etc...). I'm not sure if it's an avenue you've considered because the research alone is clinical-based and although many researchers use animal models, quite a few use humans.

Keep in mind, if you choose to get a PhD (and post-doc) regardless if you get a MD, you will need to do research and publish often. As a result, your clinical time as a MD with patients will be limited so it will be hard to do psychotherapy. Publishing can be very difficult because after you write the manuscript, the editors often tear it to shreds. One of my friends tried to publish a paper in biochemistry. Two of the editors gave few comments, almost as though they skimmed over it, while the third editor tore his paper apart so badly he (and the other researchers) had to re-write quite a lot. Afterward they submitted it and again, it got torn to shreds. One of my professors has a PhD (pharmaceutical research for psychiatric conditions), MD (specialized in psychiatry) and MScOT (occupational therapy). He was extremely busy, even though he stopped with his occupational therapy work.

I wouldn't choose to see a clinician simply because they had both doctorates. I'd first look up their research because if it's not on human subjects, it would still be quite interesting but I'm not there to have a friendly chit-chat over a cup of tea. I would want a clinician who, ignoring other characteristics, has a flexible schedule so I don't have to book months in advance. If the person has both doctorates, chances are many people want to see them and given their already limited clinical time due to research, I'd have to jump through hoops to visit them. As great as they may be, I'd settle for someone with just a MD in that case because I know they'll have more time and energy to see their patients. If you have a PhD, you're going to need funding and that alone is a headache before you begin any research. Some people say it's a waste to get both because many people would predominantly use only one of the doctorates. Additionally, by having both, you would have a ridiculous amount of work if you tried to balance both equally. For the professor I mentioned, he currently focuses most of his effort on his PhD although he still communicates with MDs when need be.

[roads]

My pdoc has the psychiatrist degree on his wall & the humanitarian calling of a therapist in his heart. He treats me as a person, an equal. He hears me, we make decisions as a team--we are a team in my mental health care.

I don't care whether he has one or two degrees--only that he works to always find the best meds for me in combination with my bipolar states at the time. I don't want him throwing meds at me like I'm a rat in a cage, satisfied if sometime seems "good enough."

My pdoc gives me the time I need, when I need it. He answers my questions, if that means he needs to call me at home after my session with some followup comments. He never leaves me hanging.

Don't worry about your degrees, Secretum. Find a way to stay true to who you are, & who you want to remain.

Roadie

[Secretum]

Thanks for all of the responses! I understand that it is my decision, but it is difficult. I think that I'll apply to med school and psych grad school and go with whichever program accepts me. Haha.

Find a way to stay true to who you are, & who you want to remain.

Excellent advice. First I need to discover who I am... I hope to be like your pdoc, Roadie. I also hope to find a pdoc like him to treat me!