“At least one in 10 Americans are prescribed psychotropics.”

-Monitor on Psychology, February 2008

Psychotropic medication can play a positive role in treating mental health conditions and they are often an effective adjunct to psychotherapy. However, the decision whether to take psychotropic medication rests with you and your prescribing provider (usually a physician).

In the State of Florida, psychologists are precluded from prescribing medication (only New Mexico and Louisiana have provided prescriptive authority for psychologists) or making recommendations to clients regarding the types of medications that they should take.

Psychologists and other therapists do play an important role, however, in assisting clients and their prescribing practitioners in monitoring their medication.  Although psychologists do not receive medical training, they are expected to become familiar with many aspects of medications since drug therapy is so frequently used by their clients.

Your psychologist or therapist should know what psychotropic drugs do, what should happen when they work, what may happen when they are not effective, and what kind of side effects may develop.

Most clients see their psychotherapist at least once weekly and their prescribing physician one monthly (sometimes sooner or much longer), so the therapist is often the first mental health professional to become aware of the client’s medication compliance and to observe behavioral, emotional, psychological, or physical changes (such as side effects) that may be a result of their medication regimen or non-compliance with treatment. 

For clients who are already taking medications, psychologists often collaborate with physicians who prescribe psychotropic and other drugs (only when a release to do so by the client is obtained, of course).   Psychologists may also recommend that their clients obtain a medication evaluation when they believe that they may benefit from such consultation.

According to a recent survey of 2,500 practicing psychologists, reportedly one in three of their clients are currently taking psychotropic medications and the expectation is that this number will increase.

Note: Dr. Jalazo is not a medical-psychologist, nor does she have specilized training in medicine, therefore the information provided on this page is offered as general information and the reader is advised to seek medical / psychiatric guidance from a licensed professional qualified to prescribe medications before making any decisions regarding his or her mental and/or medical health care in relation to psychotropic medications.

References:

Meyers, L. (2006). Psychologists and psychotropic medication. In Montitor in Psychology June 2006, Vol 37, No. 6