Clinical Psychology as a Speciality in Medical Set Up
Advances in the biomedical and the behavioral sciences have paved the way for the integration of medical practice towards the biopsychosocial approach. This means that disease and well being is not considered only as medical or biological state rather the Psychological aspect is very significantly involved. Psychology as a behavioral health discipline is the key to the biopsychosocial practice, and plays a major role in understanding the concept of health and illness. The clinical role of psychologists as health providers is diverse with the varying areas of care giving (primary, secondary and tertiary care) and a variety of subspecialties. Overall, psychologists assess, diagnose, and
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This is done by seeing the person for a number of sessions to provide psychological therapy or giving advice on how to manage memory and other problems.. Due to proven efficacy of psychological intervention people in western societies frequently visits a clinical psychologist and the trend is also increasing in India day by day.
What training do clinical psychologists have?
Clinical psychologists are trained personnels, just like doctors and nurses, and most work there too.Registered clinical psychologists have a M.Phil degree in clinical psychology plus an additional three to five years of postgraduate experience and institute training in applying the science of psychology to clinical problems. It therefore takes six to eight years to qualify as a Registered clinical psychologist, and the qualification that Registered clinical psychologists now obtain in India is a M.Phil in clinical psychology from Rehabilitation Council of India recognised centres such as CIP, NIMHANS, and few
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Clinical psychologists and psychiatrists often work in the same clinics and see people with similar problems, but there is a clear difference between them. Clinical psychologists' key role is to consider what the science of psychology tells them about how to help with the problem. And psychiatrists' key role is to consider what the science of medicine tells them about how to help with the problem. They are each able to do this because the first stage in training as a clinical psychologist is a degree in psychology, whereas the first stage in training as a psychiatrist is a degree in medicine. So if you are depressed, for instance, a psychiatrist is best placed to help you think about whether a biological treatment like antidepressant drugs may help. And a clinical psychologist is best placed to help you think about whether a psychological therapy like cognitive behavioural therapy may help to manage the underlying cause of depression and to make you able to deal with it effectively. Clinical psychologists will usually be able to help you see a psychiatrist if that would be helpful for your problem, and psychiatrists will usually be able to help you see a clinical psychologist if they would be more able to help you with your