California enacts drug-training law for psychologists

New law recognizes psychologists? role in their patients? medical well-being.

By Patrick A. McGuire
Monitor staff

California has become the first state in the nation to enact a law that explicitly encourages psychologists to participate in the management of their patients? medication.

The new law, sponsored by the California Psychological Association, establishes procedures for the training of psychologists in psychopharmacology.

It is one of several initiatives under way in states across the country aimed at getting psychologists professional training so that they may eventually win the legal right to prescribe medication for their patients. (See stories on pages 20?23)

Though the law passed in California, it faced opposition from the state?s psychiatrists, who argued that medications are beyond the scope of a psychologist?s practice.

In fact, some argued that psychologists should be prohibited from even discussing important clinical information about a patient with a prescribing physician.

However, the new measure, signed into law in late September recognizes psychologists? role in their patients? medical well-being.

The bill directs the state?s Board of Psychology to develop guidelines for the basic education and training of psychologists 'whose practice includes patients with medical conditions,' as well as those with mental and emotional disorders 'who may require psychopharmacological treatment and whose management may require collaboration with physicians and other licensed subscribers.'

The new law, notes CPA?s Director of Professional Affairs Charles Faltz, PhD, 'provides for a wide variety of independent acts of practice for psychologists in the areas of medication and medication management.'

Among it?s other provisions, the California psychology board is directed to encourage licensed psychologists to pursue continuing-education courses in psychopharmacology and the biological bases of behavior. And they must urge doctoral programs to offer such training.

APA?s Practice Directorate sees this development as significant in clearly demonstrating the California legislature?s support for licensed psychologists to pursue psychopharmacology training. Even so, Russ Newman, PhD, JD, APA?s executive director for practice, noted that state psychology licensing laws throughout the country already permit the kind of activity explicitly encouraged by the new California law.

'It?s a positive step in ensuring that psychologists get training in this area,' says Billie Hinnefeld, JD, PhD, APA?s director of legal and regulatory affairs. 'If a psychologist has a client, for example, on medication and is trying to do therapy, it behooves him or her to understand that medication. This enables psychologists to make intelligent decisions.'

Existing California law prohibits psychologists from prescribing drugs, and the new law does not change that. But, says Faltz, the new bill 'does clarify in important ways what psychologists can be doing in their practice, and that, in fact, they can have a major involvement in issues relating to medication management.'

He says state laws are usually silent or non-specific about the role of a psychologist in psychopharmacology management.

The new law is included in the California Psychology Practice Act. It recognizes psychologists? role in educating the patient about risks, benefits and treatment alternatives to medication, and in evaluating patients?:

? Need for medication.

? Response to a psychotropic drug, including side effects.

? Competency to consent to medication

? Potential need for referral to a physician.