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Clinical psychopharmacology is the use of psychotropic medications to treat mental illness. Psychologists can gain certification in writing prescriptions for patients after taking extra courses, while physicians can become certified clinical psychopharmacologists. The program is also beneficial for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists. Understanding how the drug interacts with the body is crucial in treating psychological disorders.
Psychopharmacology is the study of how psychotropic medications affect the mind. Clinical psychopharmacology is the use of these drugs in a clinical setting to treat mental illness by altering the patient’s thoughts, mood, and behavior. It is often studied by psychologists as a way to offer more treatment options to their patients.
Clinical psychopharmacology is practiced by psychologists who have chosen to take the extra courses, most often in the form of a master’s degree, required to gain certification in writing prescriptions for their patients. These prescriptions are used to treat conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mental conditions that respond well to drug therapy in addition to traditional therapy. This advanced degree allows a psychologist to use medication as part of their treatment of mental disorders, allowing for a faster recovery and more complete treatment for the patient.
There is a difference between being a psychiatrist and being certified in clinical psychopharmacology. A psychiatrist attended school first as a doctor and later received further training in psychology. Clinical psychopharmacology programs are often run by psychologists who are interested in prescribing medication for their patients; something most psychologists cannot do. A degree program in clinical psychopharmacology usually lasts two years. Typical courses include courses in neuroscience, ethics and pharmacy, and psychopharmacology.
Psychologists are not the only professionals who benefit from the study of clinical psychopharmacology. Nurse practitioners, APRNs (advanced practice nurses), physician assistants and pharmacists are encouraged to study this program through any number of universities that offer it. Other professionals involved in mental health or patient care may also find this program helpful. Many colleges offer a separate program for these professionals, with an extra course or two in psychological disorders, usually in addition to the other courses.
Clinical psychopharmacology can also be studied by physicians who wish to treat patients with psychological disorders. Physicians studying advanced psychopharmacology, through an undergraduate program, continuing medical education, or intense self-study, can take a licensing exam to become a certified clinical psychopharmacologist. The exam is very intensive and must be repeated every five years, but it allows doctors to diagnose and treat psychological disorders as part of their practice.
The use of medications as a treatment for psychological disorders requires medical professionals to know more than just which medications are used for which disorders. Psychologists and doctors should also know how the drug interacts with the body and why this interaction helps to treat the disorder. It’s a complicated practice and requires careful study, but it can help medical professionals better meet their patients’ needs.
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