Fall 1999 - IP; New Developments and a New Division in Psychopharmacology

Advocacy and Professional Issues

The Maturation of Professional Psychology - National Perspective/Patrick DeLeon

Washington Update/Ron Levant

Practice Directorate and MTV Launch Youth Anti-Violence Initiative/Tricia Alvarez

New Developments and a New Division in Psychopharmacology/Jack Wiggins

**Advocacy and Professional Issues**
	The Maturation of Professional Psychology - National Perspective/Patrick DeLeon
	Washington Update/Ron Levant
	Practice Directorate and MTV Launch Youth Anti-Violence Initiative/Tricia Alvarez
	New Developments and a New Division in Psychopharmacology/Jack Wiggins

New Developments and a New Division in Psychopharmacology
Growing momentum

The momentum in psychopharmacology has increased markedly since the adoption of the law for prescriptive authority was enacted in Guam in 1998. As of January 1999 qualified psychologists in South Africa have “prescriptive rights” for psychotropic medications in their Medicines Act. Although similar legislation did not pass in Georgia or Louisiana, bills in Alaska, Illinois and Missouri still remain active. The Prescribing Psychologist Register psychopharmacology training program graduated 400 licensed psychologists from its training program in May. In addition to the psychopharmacology training programs in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas and Louisiana, Florida and New Jersey are beginning theirs. California, Florida and Louisiana are offering a postdoctoral Master’s Degree with their training. Next year there are more states planning to introduce legislation and the University of Phoenix will have its distance learning online psychopharmacology program in operation.

A consortium of Divisions composed of Divisions 28 (Psychopharmacology & Substance Abuse), 31 (State Psych. Associations), 38 (Health) , 42 and 50 (Addictions) have collaborated in writing a Petition for a Proficiency in Psychopharmacology to be submitted to the APA Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology. This 73 page document is now being reviewed by the supporting Divisions. Drs. Marlyne Kilbey, Frank Holloway, Rudy Vuchinich and myself were principal authors of this petition.

Dr. Patrick DeLeon, APA President-Elect, has created a Task Force on Prescriptive Authority to nurture these developments. Division 42 is well represented on this task force. It will create a sustained effort in training and will facilitate the expansion of the scope of practice in psychopharmacology. The Division 42 Committee of Psychopharmacology in Independent Practice under the leadership of Michael Schwarzchild, Chair, formed a group of state Chairs of Psychopharmacology called PEPTO (Psychologists Endorsing Prescriptive Treatment Options), co-chaired by Dr. Schwarzchild and Drs. Nancy Alford, Bob Ax, Ray Folen, Ralph Welsh, and Jonathan Michaelis.” Its purpose is to initiate and encourage interest in the psychopharmacology movement. A Division of Pharmacotherapy was formed in collaboration with the Division 31 Section Psychologists for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy. The APA requires 1% of the membership sign a petition to form a new division by December 1 . Accordingly, we are inviting members of Division 42 to join with us in forming this division by signing and sending in the petition below.

A brief history of the movement

Psychopharmacology has been a domain of psychology for over a quarter of a century by an action of APA Council recognizing research and practice in this area in 1967. Psychological practitioners had begun monitoring and managing psychotropic medications of the patients under their care a decade earlier. At first, it was through private “sweetheart” arrangements with psychiatrists. As the field of psychopharmacy expanded these arrangements became more formalized whereby the psychiatrist became the “prescriber” of medications and the psychologist the manager, monitor of a multitude of medications and the mentor to the patient. In the mid 1980’s new antidepressant medications became available as safe and effective for primary care physicians to prescribe. Primary care physicians turned to psychologists to assist them in the management and monitoring of their patients as well. The World Health Organization began promoting the treatment of mental conditions by primary care physicians using psychotropic agents. This greatly enlarged the use of psychotropics in the practice of medicine and psychology. Pharmacotherapy has become a routine pattern of practice nationally and internationally as well.

Two years ago a group of APA Council members formed Psychologists for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy, a Section of Division 31 to promote prescriptive authority for psychologists. This action recognized that the use of psychotropic medications has become a standard of community care advocated by the federal government and managed care. It also recognized 160,000 Advanced Nurse Practitioners who were either prescribing or utilizing psychotropic medications in their practices in all 50 states. While the debate of whether psychologists should seek prescriptive authority began in 1984, the debate was scattered among various Divisions and state psychological associations. In 1990 APA Council commissioned a “blue ribbon” to study and report back to Council. It recommended three levels of training could be useful. Meanwhile the Department of Defense had begun a training program for psychologists to prescribe and several training programs were being developed to train psychologists in psychopharmacology. Some psychologists think it is their responsibility to make psychopharmacological treatment options available to their patients or otherwise be at risk of negligence in informing their patients of their treatment options. Several state licensing boards (CA, D.C., FL, GA, MA, MO, OK and UT) have issued rules stating it is within the scope of practice of psychology for psychologists with appropriate training or experience to make recommendations on psychotropic medications to prescribing professionals. Georgia has made CE credits in psychopharmacology a requirement for re-licensure and California encourages such training.

Petition for an APA Division of Pharmacotherapy

In order to provide an organization within APA to focus on training and treatments utilizing pharmacotherapy we request the formation of the Division of Pharmacotherapy. The undersigned respectfully requests the establishment of an APA Division of Pharmacotherapy and agrees to be a member of such a division upon its establishment with an ongoing interest in the division.

[see side note, to view and respond to this petition.]

Jack Wiggins, Ph.D. is a Past President of APA and Division 42.

Jack G. Wiggins, Ph.D.

Petition update: More than enough signatures have now been received. No more petitions are being requested.

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			New Developments and a New Division in Psychopharmacology Growing momentum The momentum in psychopharmacology has increased markedly since the adoption of the law for prescriptive authority was enacted in Guam in 1998. As of January 1999 qualified psychologists in South Africa have “prescriptive rights” for psychotropic medications in their Medicines Act. Although similar legislation did not pass in Georgia or Louisiana, bills in Alaska, Illinois and Missouri still remain active. The Prescribing Psychologist Register psychopharmacology training program graduated 400 licensed psychologists from its training program in May. In addition to the psychopharmacology training programs in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas and Louisiana, Florida and New Jersey are beginning theirs. California, Florida and Louisiana are offering a postdoctoral Master’s Degree with their training. Next year there are more states planning to introduce legislation and the University of Phoenix will have its distance learning online psychopharmacology program in operation. A consortium of Divisions composed of Divisions 28 (Psychopharmacology & Substance Abuse), 31 (State Psych. Associations), 38 (Health) , 42 and 50 (Addictions) have collaborated in writing a Petition for a Proficiency in Psychopharmacology to be submitted to the APA Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology. This 73 page document is now being reviewed by the supporting Divisions. Drs. Marlyne Kilbey, Frank Holloway, Rudy Vuchinich and myself were principal authors of this petition. Dr. Patrick DeLeon, APA President-Elect, has created a Task Force on Prescriptive Authority to nurture these developments. Division 42 is well represented on this task force. It will create a sustained effort in training and will facilitate the expansion of the scope of practice in psychopharmacology. The Division 42 Committee of Psychopharmacology in Independent Practice under the leadership of Michael Schwarzchild, Chair, formed a group of state Chairs of Psychopharmacology called PEPTO (Psychologists Endorsing Prescriptive Treatment Options), co-chaired by Dr. Schwarzchild and Drs. Nancy Alford, Bob Ax, Ray Folen, Ralph Welsh, and Jonathan Michaelis.” Its purpose is to initiate and encourage interest in the psychopharmacology movement. A Division of Pharmacotherapy was formed in collaboration with the Division 31 Section Psychologists for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy. The APA requires 1% of the membership sign a petition to form a new division by December 1 . Accordingly, we are inviting members of Division 42 to join with us in forming this division by signing and sending in the petition below. A brief history of the movement Psychopharmacology has been a domain of psychology for over a quarter of a century by an action of APA Council recognizing research and practice in this area in 1967. Psychological practitioners had begun monitoring and managing psychotropic medications of the patients under their care a decade earlier. At first, it was through private “sweetheart” arrangements with psychiatrists. As the field of psychopharmacy expanded these arrangements became more formalized whereby the psychiatrist became the “prescriber” of medications and the psychologist the manager, monitor of a multitude of medications and the mentor to the patient. In the mid 1980’s new antidepressant medications became available as safe and effective for primary care physicians to prescribe. Primary care physicians turned to psychologists to assist them in the management and monitoring of their patients as well. The World Health Organization began promoting the treatment of mental conditions by primary care physicians using psychotropic agents. This greatly enlarged the use of psychotropics in the practice of medicine and psychology. Pharmacotherapy has become a routine pattern of practice nationally and internationally as well. Two years ago a group of APA Council members formed Psychologists for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy, a Section of Division 31 to promote prescriptive authority for psychologists. This action recognized that the use of psychotropic medications has become a standard of community care advocated by the federal government and managed care. It also recognized 160,000 Advanced Nurse Practitioners who were either prescribing or utilizing psychotropic medications in their practices in all 50 states. While the debate of whether psychologists should seek prescriptive authority began in 1984, the debate was scattered among various Divisions and state psychological associations. In 1990 APA Council commissioned a “blue ribbon” to study and report back to Council. It recommended three levels of training could be useful. Meanwhile the Department of Defense had begun a training program for psychologists to prescribe and several training programs were being developed to train psychologists in psychopharmacology. Some psychologists think it is their responsibility to make psychopharmacological treatment options available to their patients or otherwise be at risk of negligence in informing their patients of their treatment options. Several state licensing boards (CA, D.C., FL, GA, MA, MO, OK and UT) have issued rules stating it is within the scope of practice of psychology for psychologists with appropriate training or experience to make recommendations on psychotropic medications to prescribing professionals. Georgia has made CE credits in psychopharmacology a requirement for re-licensure and California encourages such training. Petition for an APA Division of Pharmacotherapy In order to provide an organization within APA to focus on training and treatments utilizing pharmacotherapy we request the formation of the Division of Pharmacotherapy. The undersigned respectfully requests the establishment of an APA Division of Pharmacotherapy and agrees to be a member of such a division upon its establishment with an ongoing interest in the division. [see side note, to view and respond to this petition.] Jack Wiggins, Ph.D. is a Past President of APA and Division 42.
	Jack G. Wiggins, Ph.D.
	Petition update: More than enough signatures have now been received. No more petitions are being requested.

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