Prescribing privileges for clinical psychologists

Abstract

In a poll of psychologists in the United States, 68% of those questioned were in favour of “legislation permitting licensed psychologists who undergo additional training to prescribe some psychoactive drugs for their patients” (Youngstrom, 1991a). In the US Department of Defence, an evaluation is underway of a training programme for military psychologists to permit them to be able to prescribe psychoactive medication. In the US Indian Health Service and in the Department of Veterans' Affairs, clinical psychologists have been able to prescribe some medications for many years. In the American Psychological Association and even the US Senate, the issue of prescribing privileges for psychologists has been a matter of lively debate over the past decade. In the United Kingdom, by contrast, prescribing privileges have attracted little attention and professional organizations of psychologists have rarely, if ever, debated the issues. “A hornet's nest” or “more money for the insurance companies” have been among the comments encountered when broaching the matter informally, although these are often countered with “about time” and “I've been doing it for years by remote control”.