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By Phyllis Hanlon
On June 8, the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
(MSPP) will graduate its first class - a group of 14 mid-career,
senior level psychologists - from the newly created Master of Science
in Clinical Psychopharmacology program. Licensed psychologists who
successfully complete the program acquire knowledge and understanding
of the neuro-physiological pathways and the action, effects and
counter-indications of psychopharmacological agents on them.
Developed in collaboration with the American Psychological Association's
(APA) Working Group on Psychopharmacology Education and Training
as well as curriculum recommendations from the Massachusetts Psychological
Association's (MPA) Committee on Psychopharmacology, the program
is the first of its kind in New England and one of only eight nationwide.
According to Nicholas Covino, Psy.D., MSPP president, the program
fills an important need in clinical practice. "Psychologists are
woefully undereducated in this aspect of practice," he says. "This
training is enormously important. Now psychologists will be able
to make ethical and professional contributions by partnering with
prescribing physicians."
Response to the program has been "extraordinary," notes Covino.
He describes the school's first graduating class as pioneers who
are willing to take a risk and become catalysts for change. All
accomplished professionals in search of additional training, these
men and women hold leadership positions. "Some of these individuals
are on advocacy committees to make prescribing privileges a reality,"
he says.
Additionally, he predicts that with proper advocacy and a critical
mass, licensing for psychologists to prescribe may occur in the
next several years. "It will take politics, time and courage," Covino
says.
Currently, prescribing privileges for psychologists were granted
in New Mexico with a handful of other states pushing strongly for
this privilege (see related
story).
Approximately 75 percent of patients receive pharmacological intervention
for mental health issues, such as depression, from their primary
care physicians according to Covino. Covino emphasizes the importance
of having someone capable of seeing both the mental health side
as well as the pharmacological aspects of treatment. Psychologists
who are appropriately trained to prescribe medication will complement
the work of other clinicians and decrease the need to triage important
therapeutic work, he says.
Instead of involving a host of healthcare professionals, Covino
adds that two parties will be able to treat patients effectively.
"The health care system wins by having people who can improve the
quality of care," he says.
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