...and the moronic comments overheard this time.

[laconicsax]

I have this talent for being within earshot of morons loudly proclaiming their idiocy. Today was no exception.

After the group finished their discussion of how accurately astrology describes their lives and the merits of combining the details of 'professional' horoscope charts with Chinese astrology, they shifted to medicine... Here are some excerpts:

"Oh yeah, the DSMs are just for the insurance companies, they're completely useless when it comes to diagnosing people."
"It's so hard to diagnose people sometimes--it isn't like in the book."
"There are really only three psychiatric conditions a patient might have: depression, schizophrenia, and...umm...what was it...bipolar."

:crazy:

[TZ]

1. Sounds like you were within earshot of some genuine

Dr. Google types there. You know, I know longer wonder why my physician will sometimes roll his eyes when I mention reading something on teh internets.....:crazy:

[laconicsax]

4. The medical comments were made by a psychologist.

Yeah...

[PVnRT]

5. Well, psychology is not a medical discipline

Yeah, I know, I'll get shit for that, but it isn't. Psychiatry is a medical discipline.

[TZ]

6. You are right there.

Psychologists usually only have a BS. Psychiatrists have gone to Med School. I know whom I want giving medical advice...

[lazarus]

7. no, psychologists have Ph.D.'s

they just didn't go to med school. They're still addressed as "doctor", though. They're just not medical doctors, and should never give medical advice.

[HuckleB]

8. However, many Master's trained, and certificate only trained counselors/therapists...

... push themselves off to others as "psychologists" when in the company who don't know any better. I wonder if this "psychologist" falls into that category.

[lazarus]

9. I guess

But they're not supposed to call themselves "psychologists" unless they've got the degree.

[HuckleB]

10. No, they're not, but that doesn't stop those who do.

Especially those who exist in circles of ignorance, such as the one described in the OP.

[LeftishBrit]

11. True.

Being a professional psychologist requires extensive academic training as well as usually practical experience. Just not medical training.

I am actually shocked that properly trained psychologists can reveal such ignorance - you would think that even without medical training they would pick up such basics from a good undergraduate degree. Maybe these ones weren't properly trained.

Certainly, there are regrettably some people who call themselves 'psychologists' without much academic training, and there is not all that much one can do to prevent it. The British Psychological Society has endeavoured to deal with the problem by registering only some, properly vetted people as 'Chartered Psychologists'; but you can still call yourself a psychologist without such registration.

[realisticphish]

2. wha?

wow. just, wow.

[Deep13]

3. Humans don't have the ability to influence the climate. nt