Ba.Psych + MB/BS? (1 Viewer)

[zomgSEAN]

So i am looking at doing Bachelor of Pyschology(honours) at Deakin in Geelong next year, and have recently considered going into post-graduate Medicine/Surgery after completing this course.

I was wondering if the Ba.Psych would further/specialise my qualifications in my medical career if i was to complete Medicine/Surgery and the following training to register as a Medical Practitioner?
Or would it just be a few extra letters at the start of my name, and nothing more?

Also, i'm not querying whether education in psychology will assist me in my post-grad medicine/surgery course, i am querying whether it will give me significantly higher qualifications(similar to that of a psychiatrist) if i was to become a medical practitioner.


P.S. i'm not applying for undergraduate medicine/surgery because:
a) i am not doing VCE Chemistry 3/4
b) i do not currently have the skills to achieve a high enough ATAR to compete with other brilliant students wishing to enter this degree.

 

[bio_nut]

No, psychology is completely different to psychiatry. It might be helpful in some parts of medicine, but I don't think it's going to give you any extra qualifications. You need more than just honours to even be a qualified psychologist (associated prac and such), so it's just another degree on it's own.

 

[zomgSEAN]

I'm aware of the further experience and training required to become a fully qualified psychologist, eligible for registration.
Thankyou for your contribution.

 

[bio_nut]

You're on exactly the same footing as everyone else. Just pick the degree you think you'll perform best in.

 

[zomgSEAN]

I don't quite understand what you mean? Elaboration would be appreciated.

 

[Havox]

Meaning your degree will be just as pointless to Medicine as a guy holding a law degree. The two aren't related and you won't gain any extra "qualifications" beside it because you're not a registered psych. Your psych degree is pretty much pointless without associated practice and all that jazz in the same way that a Doctor must be an intern before registration. What bio_nut is saying, is that you should just pick psychology if you want to be a psychologist and med if you want to be a doctor. Doing both is won't gain you any advantages.

 

[Rekkusu]

Havox is right.

In medicine, we are taught simple psychology (namely things like depression, mood disorders (due to substance abuse) and biologically based diseases like Schizophrenia (high dopamine,etc ). Amusingly, there is little time spent in this area, and we are given minimal tools to diagnose this.

Doctors simply refer patients to psychiatrists/psychologists whenever pharmacological/counselling methods prove to be of little help. We do get doctors who specialise in psychology, but psychiatry by itself is really of little help to studying the mbbs.

I know 2 students who've completed psych degrees (didn't move onto masters), started med, and found their knowledge to be of little help.

 

[KFunk]

In the context of a selection interview for the college of psychiatrists basic training program (i.e. post-internship, once you are working as a 'doctor') I would expect a degree in psychology to be a positive tick in your favor. It is unlikely to be a major determining factor in your selection (compared to personal qualities, experience within psychiatric rotations, supervisor recommendations) but it would nonetheless help.

A large amount of what is taught in undergrad psychology degrees is of benefit in understanding and treating (thinking psychotherapeutic approaches in particular) mental illness. Most medical degrees barely touch on important aspects of social psychology, the fine details of psychological development (though this depends on the quality of paediatrics teaching), personality, language etc. However, once it comes to neuroanatomy and physiology, psychopathology (within the biomedical DSM model), and so on, a psychology degree generally won't provide anything in excess of a medical degree unless you do research in a relevant area.