Prescriptive authority: Psychologists’ abridged training relative to other professions’ training.

Abstract

Albeit psychologists were granted prescription authority in two states over a decade ago and in three states in recent years, the controversy over prescriptive authority persists within the profession and remains a concern of diverse stakeholders. The literature provides minimal research on the adequacy of psychopharmacology training programs and how commensurate psychologists’ training is with other prescribers’ training. Comparing psychopharmacology training for psychologists to other prescribing professionals’ training reveals psychologists receive fewer didactic training hours in foundational sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and pathophysiology) and fewer clinical training hours directly related to prescribing and managing medications. Implications of these findings and legal and regulatory cautions are discussed along with recommendations for future research directions.

Prescriptive authority for psychologists: Can we avert disaster?

“…This comment was in support of the assertions by Robiner et al () that the current training models proposed for RxP are inadequate and would pose a public health risk. In order to satisfy the appetite that professional psychology appears to have for gaining deeper biomedical knowledge, it is suggested here that education in medication and association biological facets of mental illness could be achieved without sacrificing our professional identity.…”

What is the right amount of training? Response to Robiner et al.

“…With 10% of states having enacted RxP legislation, and with its spread to a state as populous as Illinois, RxP is here to stay. It is noteworthy that, in comparison with earlier works (e.g., Robiner et al, ), where RxP skeptics rejected prescriptive authority as an option, Robiner et al () are instead discussing how RxP training can be improved. That is an important step in moving to the point at which a dialog can begin between both camps about how to optimize psychologists’ training as prescribers.…”

“…Much of Robiner et al’s () article is devoted to comparing psychologists' preparations for prescribing to those of other prescribing professions. The following quote seems to fairly capture their primary conclusion from this comparison:

if the profession wishes to present psychologist prescribers as high quality, comparable to other professions’ prescribers, the APA designation criteria should more closely resemble training of other (including nonphysician) prescribers in other disciplines to confirm near equivalence of training (i.e., of didactics and experience) and readiness for prescribing.

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La psicoterapia en su laberinto

“…Illinois (2014), Iowa (2016) e Idaho (2017) se agregaron a esa lista que parece no tener freno allí. El número de psicólogos que ya recibieron esa habilitación no es pequeño; sólo en Illinois suman más de 5.000 (Robiner, Tompkins y Hathaway, 2020).…”