American Psychological Association Division 55 (American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy) Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Practice guidelines regarding psychologists' involvement in pharmacological issues

American Psychological Association practice guidelines for psychopharmacology: Ethical practice considerations for psychologists involving psychotropic use with children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES

This study discusses the implications of the American Psychological Association's 2011 Practice Guidelines for Pharmacology as they apply to psychologists working with juvenile clients. Special considerations apply due to concerns about the developmental side effects that occur when psychotropic medications are prescribed to children and adolescents.

METHODS OR DESIGN

This study provides recommendations for implementing each of the Practice Guidelines. Constructive criticism of the Practice Guidelines is also discussed with the aim of improving service delivery.

RESULTS

This study provides specific recommendations for psychologists regarding obtaining adequate knowledge about psychopharmacology to inform clients or consult with physicians. Suggestions are made for continuing education requirements for psychologists who work with juveniles.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations are made for psychologists working with juveniles to increase their knowledge of psychotropic medications for a more ethical and informed voice regarding the prescribing of such medications.

Prescriptive Authority and Counseling Psychology

The prescriptive authority for psychologists (RxP) movement is controversial in its notion that properly trained licensed psychologists should be granted the right to prescribe psychotropic medication. Since its inception, the RxP movement has been successful in engendering prescriptive authority for psychologists practicing at both federal and state levels. For the past20 years, the specialty of counseling psychology’s official position on prescriptive authority has been neutral. The author believes that renewed discourse is warranted. Therefore, the author will argue that counseling psychology practitioners should endorse the RxP movement, as prescriptive authority appeals to such unique facets of counseling psychology’s professional identity as holistic conceptualization of clients, a strengths-based approach to treatment, and a focus on social justice. The author also addresses concerns that may be preventing practitioners’ support, including the effectiveness of training programs for prescribing psychologists and the potential for prescriptive authority to dominate professional identity and practice.