(New comment on graduate education in psychopharmacology by Pat DeLeon )
Psychopharmacology (RxP): In response to the steadily growing interest in psychopharmacology among our profession's next generation of leaders, and especially those students currently in graduate school, APA is seeking public comment on the proposed modifications to the 2009 RxP model Curriculum, model Designation Criteria, and model Legislation pursuant to a Task Force recommendation. The Task Force was chaired by Ronald Brown. It had been approved and subsequently convened by BEA, BPA, and CAPP in 2017, holding an-in person meeting at the end of that year. Their 2018 recommendations, if approved as APA policy, would make clear that it would be appropriate to provide the didactic portion of the psychopharmacology training during graduate school. Of historical interest, in 1997 APAGS adopted a formal resolution of support for RxP.
This year the American Psychological Foundation (APF) issued a call for submissions for the Beth Rom-Rymer Scholarship program which will provide up to nine scholarships to support both graduate students and practicing licensed psychologists to complete their RxP training. This is in addition to the APF Walter Katkovsky research grants supporting research on the general topic of combining psychotherapy and psychoactive medications, where the medication is an adjunct to psychotherapy and not the primary intervention. Nearly 30 applications were received for Beth's award, clearly reflecting growing enthusiasm for RxP which her efforts, and especially the successful Illinois legislation, have generated within the field. We would be pleased to learn of interprofessional efforts conducted by State Associations and individual psychologists integrating the expertise of our colleagues in nursing and clinical pharmacy in the training of our next generation. As a profession, we seem to under-appreciate the significance of the fact that those seeking mental and behavioral health care remain the same individual, regardless of which professional discipline they ultimately chose to work with. Remaining in isolated professional silos would seem to be counterproductive at best.
The Exciting Advent of Telehealth: With the ever increasing sophistication occurring within the communications field and the steadily declining cost of the technology, not to mention the ease with which the younger generation relates to this development, there can be little doubt that the future of health care will become increasingly reliant upon its utilization. The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense have been on the cutting edge of utilizing telehealth (e.g., telepsychology) and have had outstanding results, with mental health being a major focus. Colleagues report that their younger clients often prefer utilizing this technology to in-person encounters. The quality of care appears to be equivalent. For those in the private sector, licensure mobility is a major issue which must be addressed. Under the visionary leadership of Steve DeMers, CEO of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the APA Council of Representatives endorsed in principle their Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), a joint initiative with APA and The Trust, during our Denver convention. The proposed "E-Passport" would allow the provision of psychological services by qualified licensed psychologists via electronic means across jurisdictional boundaries, without additional licensure in the jurisdiction in which the client was physically present when receiving services. Three states have already endorsed the Compact with similar efforts underway within the Advanced Practice Nursing (APRN) community. Steve reports that at least seven states must affirmatively enact the Compact legislation in order for psychology to establish a meaningful presence in this new and evolving environment. Is your State Association affirmatively addressing this critical issue? Aloha,
Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division 31 – March, 2018
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