Prescription privileges for psychologists

Abstract

As the profession of psychology has matured, serious interest has surfaced over the past decade in obtaining prescription privileges within the practitioner community. Other nonphysician disciplines have exercised this clinical responsibility for years, significantly improving their ability to comprehensively serve current and new populations. Efforts are underway to develop appropriate and viable training modules. The primary objection expressed by medicine is once again that our practitioners will become "public health hazards." Not surprisingly, resistance to change exists within psychology's training programs. However, the power to prescribe represents the authority to ensure that psychotropic medications are appropriately utilized, if used at all, and will ensure that psychology's practitioners can address society's pressing needs.