PrepTest 151

Incorrect. One group being qualified to prescribe a medication doesn't help justify a conclusion preventing another group from doing so. This answer is the inverse of the correct answer.

Incorrect. The conclusion here is about CPs who are not MDs, not MDs who are not CPs.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
CPs only receive a few hundred hours of science related to psych drugs; MDs receive years of training before they can prescribe them. Therefore, CPs who are not also MDs shouldn't be allowed to prescribe these drugs.

Answer Anticipation:
The argument jumps between training in various areas of science to a determination of whether someone should prescribe drugs. However, it never establishes that this training should be a requirement for prescribing them. Maybe the diagnosis of a psychological condition is the hard part, and understanding the science of the drug meant to treat it isn't important. The correct answer will establish training in the mentioned sciences (or at least one of them) as a requirement for prescribing them.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes years of training in certain fields of science as being necessary to prescribing these medications. Since CPs don't have this training, it justifies a conclusion barring them from prescribing them.

Key Takeaway:
When the conclusion of a Principle (Strengthen) question states that a certain thing shouldn't happen, the correct answer will most likely establish necessary conditions for that thing happening. It could also establish sufficient criteria for barring the thing from happening.

Incorrect. This answer establishes years of training in certain fields of science as being sufficient (not necessary) to allow MDs to prescribe psych meds. That's not the conclusion we're trying to justify.

Incorrect. The conclusion is about whether CPs should be able to prescribe these medications, not what should be done to get them ready to do so.