The problem of mental illness and the position and prospects of clinical psychology in India has been very much neglected and require special attention, in view of the steady rise in the percentage of mental illness. With the influence of urbanization and civilization, Western thought on Indian culture, and an increase in needs with fewer avenues for the successful channelization of these needs, people of India are suffering from behavior disorders at quite a rapid speed. This may be attributed to a high prevalence rate of alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking habit, etc.
The area of clinical psychology, which focuses on psychopathology and both mental and physical health, is interesting and expanding. Clinical psychology deals with comprehending, treating, and avoiding mental health issues and the effects that go along with them. In the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health issues, clinical psychologists are crucial
The word "clinical," which is derived from the Latin and Greek meanings for bed, denotes the care of sick people. However, the term "clinical psychology" now refers to more than only individual mental disorders. The psychological well-being and constructive behavior of people are among clinical psychology's overarching goals; as a result, it concentrates on both the internal psychobiological states and the exterior social and physical surroundings that people interact with. Although clinical psychology is the most prevalent area of psychology that deals with methods and techniques used outside of the lab, applied psychology also covers industrial, educational, organizational, military, and many other specializations.
Therefore, clinical psychology makes use of what is understood about the fundamentals of human conduct to assist individuals with the various problems and worries they encounter throughout their lives in regard to their connections, emotions, and bodily selves. For instance, a clinical psychologist would assess a kid using intellectual and educational exams to see whether the child has an attentional or learning issue that could affect how well they do in school. A psychotherapist treating an adult suffering from acute depression after a recent divorce is another example. Clinical psychologists are interested in a variety of issues, including alcoholism, hallucinations, compulsive eating, sexual dysfunctions, physical abuse, suicidal thoughts, and brain traumas.
The history of clinical psychology, like that of many other sciences, is often given as a list of individuals and dates. Knowing the people who have influenced clinical psychology and the dates of key events is vital for understanding the profession. An essential perspective on the origins of clinical psychology as it is practiced now may be gained by following the evolution of the discipline over time and the people who have affected it. However, names and dates do not really convey the main significance of clinical psychology's very brief history. Instead, knowledge of the causes that have molded the area into its current state and those that are expected to impact its future growth is what gives it historical significance.
The history of clinical psychology is notable for three reasons. First, rather than coming from within psychology, many of the key events and causes that have shaped it have originated outside of psychology. The discipline of clinical psychology has made considerable strides in recent years, sometimes as a result of ground-breaking investigations, but more frequently as a result of the slow and steady collection of data from several studies. Third, clinical psychology is a relatively new profession that is still trying to establish its identity. The topic of why the science and practice of clinical psychology evolved so quickly in the second half of the 20th century is more important than how and when clinical psychology emerged.
Two factors led to the creation of the field. First, there has always been a demand for treatment and support for those who are struggling psychologically, and clinical psychology developed in part to fill this need. Before clinical psychology stepped in to assist fill this function, the needs of people with psychological issues had been met in various ways throughout history. Second, several pioneers of modern psychology in the late 1800s and early 1900s believed that advancing human welfare should be one of the main goals of their fledgling field.
Following are the major issues that clinical psychology is facing
As the field of clinical psychology expanded and its practitioners increased, questions about professional competence started to emerge. Many people lack the intelligence, interest, or time to tell a professional from a con artist. Therefore, professional regulation has created defined criteria of competence for clinical psychologists in an effort to safeguard the public interest.
Most of the time, certification is a rather lax kind of control. It ensures that anyone who provides services to the general public for a charge cannot refer to themselves as "psychologists" unless they have received certification from a state board of examiners. Such certification frequently entails a test, but it can also just be an assessment of the applicant's education and work experience.
By limiting the use of the word "psychologist," certification aims to safeguard the public. Its flaw is that it does not stop anybody from providing psychiatric services to the general public, including unqualified professionals and blatant fraud. State legislatures frequently passed certification rules as a consequence of successful psychiatric lobbying. Many psychiatrists opposed any rule that would acknowledge the practice of psychotherapy by any non-medical discipline because they sought to reserve it as the exclusive domain of medicine. Therefore, the best regulation that psychologists could have was certification legislation.
A stronger type of legislation than certification is licensing. It often stipulates what particular professional services may be given to the public for a charge, in addition to the training necessary for license and the nature of the title (e.g., "psychologist"). For instance, with certification, anybody might self-identify as a "therapist" and proceed to offer "psychotherapeutic" services with no repercussions.
Many state licensing rules define psychotherapy and specifically indicate that it is only the domain of psychiatry, clinical psychology, or other specified professions in order to avoid such evasions. However, dedicated impostors can be challenging to manage since they are often quite good at hiding the genuine nature of their actions.
Identification and acknowledgment are major issues that clinical psychologists are currently dealing with. When referring to those who offer psychological services, a number of phrases are frequently conflated and misinterpreted. Clinical psychologists and the term "counselor" are sometimes used interchangeably, causing some people to believe that they offer similar services. Psychologists are the ones that offer a long-term solution for reoccurring issues, whereas counselling is only capable of offering short-term guidance and assistance.
Due to a lack of funding and necessary intellectual support, clinical psychology research is lacking, which is disappointing and causing development barriers. According to Misra and Rizvi in a meta-analysis done in 2012, this results in less research being done on the Indian people and the adoption of indigenous traditions without enough empirical facts.
The process of creating cases involves both creativity and science. To arrive at an acceptable formulation, certain conditions must be met. A coherent treatment strategy is built on a solid, accurate formulation. Tools that are culture-specific or culture-free are necessary to arrive at a definitive formulation. Due to a shortage of such tools, a tool with western influences and questions that have been altered by the user is used instead, which undermines the scientific nature of the tool and the entire process. Creating tools for reasonably accurate evaluations, exact formulation, and pertinent treatment regimens is a problem.
One topic that is being contested right now is a prescription privilege. A clinical psychologist is qualified to recommend psychotropic medications. It is a lofty goal that comes with a lot of restrictions. Only a few clinical psychologists with additional education and experience have access to this privilege currently. Examples include New Mexico and Illinois. Pharmacotherapy is seen and believed to be a reliable treatment mode.
Rapid development and change are occurring in clinical psychology. Some of these changes are obviously unfavourable, while others are really good. On the plus side, psychology has made a significant contribution to a better understanding of human behaviour and strategies for raising many people's quality of life. Today's evaluation, therapy, research, instruction, and consulting are all far more successful than they were in the past.
As a field, psychology has also grown more independent. Legislation governing licensing, medical staff privileges, prescription rights, and freedom of choice have all helped psychology become a respected autonomous profession. A deeper and more complex knowledge of human behaviour has emerged as the profession and area have advanced.
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