Psychology is an empowering profession that continues to grow and develop. One of the most recent developments, encompassing the past two decades, has been the movement to include prescribing psychotropic medication within the scope of competence of practicing psychologists. This movement is built on the long history of practicing psychologists being learned in the field of mental illness and the various treatments available for mental illness. In this regard, psychologists have consulted with other health professionals (including medical doctors) according to the needs of patients, including patients’ needs for psychotropic medications. Practicing psychologists have provided consultation to other health professionals, and to our patients, to the degree and specificity that is consistent with that psychologist’s education, training and experience.

Thus, it has been a natural evolution for practicing psychologists to begin to obtain additional education, training and experience in order to be able to prescribe psychotropic medications. As individual state laws become modified to permit prescribing by such practicing psychologists, psychologists have obtained the necessary education, training and experience consistent with the specific requirements of each state law. At the point in time when this statement is being written, there are currently provisions in the laws of Guam, New Mexico, Louisiana, and the United States military that permit prescribing by practicing psychologists. In each of these jurisdictions, the specific path to independent prescribing by practicing psychologists varies in some of the specific requirements. However, they all follow a similar model of education, training and experience that build on the basic education, training and experience that has always existed for practicing psychologists that result in other health professionals (including medical doctors) and patients seeking the specific recommendations of practicing psychologists regarding psychotropic medications.

In addition, we are aware of several states in which the Board of Psychology has issued a specific statement affirming that it is in the scope of license for a psychologist to discuss medications with patients and other health professionals. In issuing this statement, the Psychology Associations that have signed below make it absolutely clear that the historical practice of practicing psychologists making psychotropic medication recommendations to our patients and other health professionals (including medical doctors) is an integral part of psychological practice. The scope of our profession and our license includes such consultations and recommendations as well as the use of laboratory results in making recommendations regarding specific medications, dosages and dosing regimens. Because we are aware of some confusing and illogical representations that have been made about psychologists making medication recommendations, we want to make absolutely clear: making medication recommendations is not the equivalent of actually prescribing medications and such recommendations do not constitute a violation of statutory prohibitions against prescribing by psychologists. Furthermore, it is part of “best practices” of psychology to discuss our recommendations with our patients.

Signed:
California Association of Psychology Providers (CAPP)
National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers (NAPPP)
Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP)

The California Association of Psychology Providers (CAPP) is a California State-Wide Association of California Licensed Psychologists that emerged in 1983 and was soon followed by the favorable decision in CAPP v. RANK decision by the California Supreme Court regarding the scope of practice of psychologists providing care in hospitals. CAPP includes student affiliate members, associate members from other professions and from other states. The Mission of CAPP is to advocate for and protect the rights of the public to the services of psychologists and to enhance the authority of psychologists to provide the “best practices” of psychological care for their patients. CAPP: 23461 South Pointe #190, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, (949) 380-7383. capp.nappp.org.

The National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers is a national organization of licensed, doctoral level psychologists who provide mental health services. Many of NAPPP’s members are trained in clinical psychopharmacology including those licensed to prescribe in Louisiana and New Mexico. NAPPP’s mission is to promote psychological practice within the context of a caring mental health system. Our noted board of directors includes three former American Psychological Association presidents and nine psychologists who are trained in clinical psychopharmacology.