A psychologist has educationally investigated matters of the mind but has not completed medical school. Only psychiatrists can ______.

A psychologist has educationally investigated matters of the mind but has not completed medical school. Only psychiatrists can ______.

• A. prescribe therapy
• B. conduct neuropsychological testing
• C. order medications
• D. write prescriptions

Answer: (D)

Prescriptive authority in mental health care is the key idea. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with pharmacology training, so they have the legal right to prescribe medications for mental health conditions. A psychologist, including educational psychologists, generally does not have prescribing rights and focuses on psychotherapy and psychological testing rather than medication management. This is why writing prescriptions is the best choice to reflect the difference in scope of practice. Neuropsychological testing is something psychologists do; therapy can be provided by both, but a prescription isn’t involved in therapy itself; ordering medications is typically done by physicians, but the clearest distinction is the act of writing a prescription.

Prescriptive authority in mental health care is the key idea. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with pharmacology training, so they have the legal right to prescribe medications for mental health conditions. A psychologist, including educational psychologists, generally does not have prescribing rights and focuses on psychotherapy and psychological testing rather than medication management. This is why writing prescriptions is the best choice to reflect the difference in scope of practice. Neuropsychological testing is something psychologists do; therapy can be provided by both, but a prescription isn’t involved in therapy itself; ordering medications is typically done by physicians, but the clearest distinction is the act of writing a prescription.