Psychopharmacology Essay

Some of the current changes that can be seen in regards to prescription privileges include changes in the ways that physicians and mental health professionals are able to prescribe medications to their patients. According to Brenda Smith of the APA (2012), currently patients receive their medications for psychological conditions by a physician usually without having been evaluated by a mental health practitioner according to the CDC. The trend includes individuals to visit their general health practitioners in order to receive psychotropic medications such as antidepressants and anxiolytics. The problem with individuals receiving these medications from other sources include: deterrence

“Hallucinations and voices that caused schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders have been stopped with the use of new medications”. (MHT, 2) “Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without curing the infection that causes it, psychotherapeutic medications act by controlling symptoms,” (MFMI, 4). “Another advantage of these medications is an increased understanding of the causes of mental illness. Scientists investigate the results of the medications, and through these results, they have learned a great deal about the working of the brain system.” (MFMI, 4) The use of new drugs has made it possible for mentally ill persons to live a normal life.

There are several ethical dilemmas that the mental health professionals that are working as a team will face including “ensuring that the client has given informed consent, maintaining client confidentiality, and involving professionals, paraprofessionals, and family in appropriate coordinated processes that benefit the client” (Paproski & Haverkamp, 2000, p.96).

Not only may medications be less effective than therapy, medication can have serious side effects that can make them dangerous, especially in children. “The link between antidepressants and suicide rates among children and adolescents is a very serious issue that both Congress and the FDA are investigating” (Davis). Medication meant to help with serious depression cannot be considered beneficial if it causes the patient to consider

Two of the ten studies investigate medications and the effectiveness on the outcome of the individuals studied. Green, Noordsy, Brunette, and O'Keefe (2008) studied theories related to schizophrenia and substance abuse. The authors discuss a number of theories that attempt to explain how the two are related. Although their study was not clear, the authors continue to recommend comprehensive treatment that includes psychosocial and medication treatment in an integrated fashion (Green et al.,

As we have seen, treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotic drugs can have impressive results in terms of decreasing active symptoms, although it does nothing to alleviate negative symptoms or to improve cognitive functioning. Unfortunately, this kind of treatment has the drawback of extremely serious and even fatal side-effects. Newer generation atypical antipsychotics offer more hope, as they can treat both active and negative symptoms, and also improve cognitive functioning. Moreover, they have fewer side-effects. However, treatment is complicated by the fact that results are unpredictable; and in addition the side-effects that they do have can be very serious, such as diabetes, which in itself is life-threatening. However, as the potential side-effects are known, the physician has leeway to choose a drug which is a good match for the patient’s clinical profile. Then, once the patient’s symptoms have been much alleviated with an appropriate newer generation atypical antipsychotic, the patient should be able to also benefit from a range of psychotherapeutic interventions. It is argued that this is the best treatment regime to choose, as it is likely to result in the greatest improvement in quality of life, coupled with the lowest risk of potentially devastating side-effects, or of death. This is likely to be better than utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, the results of which are not reliably known – although research has certainly shown that it is less efficacious

As a future psychiatrist, it will be one of my responsibilities to prescribe patients the right medication in order to help them with their mental issues, such as depression or anxiety, when necessary. Therefore, it is also my responsibility to assure none of my patients are

The client has every right to choose whether or not they receive the treatment that they are recommended by a counselor. By providing the client with any information that can contribute to them making an informed decision on their treatment plan, we can be sure that we have

The right to prescribe medication for psychologist have been a hot topic in the mental health field and have been a major goal of the American Psychological Association. In fact, the American Psychological Association have established many different training programs and legislations towards achieving this goal. Today, the state of New Mexico, Louisiana, and Illinois are the three states that have approved prescription rights for psychologist, with many other state have already introduced similar legislation waiting for approval. It is believed that the benefits of granting prescription rights to psychologist are that it would improve mental health service, affordability, accessibility and effectiveness of mental health treatment. However, giving psychologist the prescription right could lead to many negative factors such as psychologist’s lack of appropriate training for prescribing medication, changes in psychologist treatment for patient, and legal and ethical issues.

The debate in regards to granting psychotherapists prescription privileges, has been argued for quite some time now. This paper will explore the idea whether psychotherapists should be allowed to prescribe medication in America. Through supporting evidence and research, this paper aids the idea that psychotherapists should not be allowed to prescribe medication. Based on three main areas of focus, I support my argument by showing how the lack of experience and knowledge pertaining to medicine, deems psychotherapist unsuitable to prescribe medication. It takes four years of medical school, not to mention experience in clinical practice, to fully master the skill and knowledge required to prescribe medication. The paper will discuss in depth

During the treatment team meeting I attended, I learned each professional has a very different relationship with each patient based upon which aspect they are working with. For example, the psychiatrists may understand the patient on a more emotional level and understand their trauma and why they are presenting certain behaviours. However,

When working with client’s counselor need to know information about their client before considering any treatment such as medication, it is essential to know and understand the client’s needs much time too often clients are suffering from a counselor not listening and feel that medicine will do the trick. That is not the case for everyone, especially in the diversity of culture counselor should have a plan when working with the client that includes consultant with Psychiatrist and the primary care doctor to make sure that the client is getting the best treatment (Laureate, 2012). So in regards to psychopharmacological intervention in counseling, I feel it is important, but only use it is in your scope of practice. Too many clients are suffering an overdose due to multiple providers giving

This client was on several psychotropic medications as well, during their counseling session he mad excuses by complaining about dizziness and/or stomach pain to avoid speaking. But after a few sessions she realized that his mother was constantly charging his medication without informing his support team and as his advocate she was able to do so. Donna seeked supervision for her consultant regarding and a meet was held to address the major concerns affects his counseling session. The medication providers and other support team staff informed his mother that medication needs as least three months to work in his system. His mother was changing his medication off of

Although these agents are particularly effective against psychotic symptoms, side effects remained low. Conversely, researchers question efficacy of first generation of antipsytropic drugs in contrast to second generation drugs in the distinction between side effects. However, managing major drugs treatment prescribing doctors the complexity arises in short term and long-term treatment with positive outcomes and decrease side effects.

Every person is diverse in many ways. It is through their thoughts, encounters, life experiences that make people who they are today. Health care professionals are impacted everyday with their psychosocial factors that they are aware of and unaware of.” Some may believe that considering psychosocial factors is impractical because of time constraints (Falvo, Pg 82). There are health care professionals that ignore or try avoiding patient’s psychosocial factors because of feelings of being overwhelmed or incompetent because they don’t know how to handle the issue at hand. An example would be a doctor prescribing medication to a patient who does not believe in