Proficiency in Psychopharmacology

The Proficiency in Psychopharmacology documents the extensive education and training of psychologists in the use of pharmaceutical treatments for mental and emotional conditions according to the standards established by the American Psychological Association. The Proficiency recognizes the passage of a national examination covering ten or more areas of knowledge of psychopharmacology and
The knowledge base of psychopharmacology encompasses the domains of neuroanatomy, biochemistry, physiology and pathophysiology, physical assessment and biopsychosocial and pharmacologic assessment and monitoring, differential diagnosis, pharmacology and clinical pharmacology, psychopharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, professional, inter-professional, ethical and legal issues, and psychotherapy/pharmacotherapy interactions.

In addition to these core areas, the proficiency requires the acquisition of: (1) in-depth knowledge of the content and skills common to the myriad conditions representing the spectrum of mental/behavioral disorders and (2) in-depth knowledge specific to a single condition and/or specific populations (e.g., children and adolescents, older adults, adults with serious mental illness like schizophrenia, or people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities). Psychopharmacology is a rapidly expanding field of expertise stimulated by the development of new medications to treat a wide variety of genetic based illnesses and acquired disorders.

This expertise is not limited by age, gender, or racial factors since mental and emotional conditions are not limited by these factors. An integral part of the psychologists training in psychopharmacology is in the attributes of age, gender, race, family genetics and other individual differences which effect the application of psychopharmacy. Current pharmacotherapy centers on the enhancement of mental efficiency and emotional stability effecting human performance.

New drugs are being developed to ameliorate other human disabilities and promote improved quality of life which require the applications of psychological knowledge and skills. The unique contribution of psychology to the Proficiency in Psychopharmacology is that it expands the use of psychologists diagnostic acumen and treatment skills to health care services in the selective use of medications. It also facilitates the recognition of psychology as a health profession at collegial parity when collaborating with other health care professionals.