The Pharmaceutical Industry's Use of Gifts and Educational Events to Influence Prescription Practices: Ethical Dilemmas and Implications for Psychologists.

Psychologists are increasingly facing exposure to the marketing strategies of the pharmaceutical industry, such as gifts, perks, and educational programs. Psychiatry has demonstrated some of the pitfalls associated with the powerful influence and financial resources of pharmaceutical marketing. The literature suggests that prescribing behavior is influenced by exposure to such marketing practices, even by small and seemingly insignificant gifts. Psychology has an opportunity to develop effective safeguards against the potential undue influence of pharmaceutical marketing on the way they practice and now, for some, on the way they prescribe. The authors describe ways in which psychologists may be affected by these marketing practices, and they offer several strategies for dealing with ethical dilemmas that arise from the competing interests of patient care and the pharmaceutical industry's profit motive. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Military health care providers' views on prescribing privileges for psychologists.

Selected military psychologists have been trained and privileged to independently prescribe psychotropic medications. To explore the attitudes of health care professionals toward prescribing authority, a survey of 395 military psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians, and social workers was conducted. Psychologists, physicians, and social workers supported prescribing privileges and continuation of the training programs. Results suggested that support by physicians and social workers is based on improving access to comprehensive mental health care for their patients. Psychologists advocating prescribing privileges at the state level need to pursue the training and licensing authority to prescribe independently. The opposition of organized psychiatry seems assured. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Should psychologists obtain prescribing privileges? A survey of family physicians.

The question of whether psychologists should be granted prescribing privileges has generated considerable interest and debate. Family physicians' views are important because of their growing role as gatekeepers to specialty services and the frequency with which they encounter patients with mental health treatment needs. A national sample of family physicians was sent a questionnaire that assessed their current collaborative practices with psychologists and psychiatrists and their views about granting prescribing privileges to psychologists. The response rate was 40% (N?=?397). High rates of communication and collaboration were reported. Most respondents opposed prescribing privileges for psychologists. Subgroups of physicians differed, and certain medications (antidepressants, anxiolytics) appeared more acceptable than others for psychologists to prescribe. These results could provide impetus to those psychologists seeking prescribing privileges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some effects of prescribing privileges.

Indicates that in their discussion of the reasons why psychologists should have prescribing privileges, P. H. DeLeon et al (see record 1991-25292-001) make no mention of (1) psychologists' possible selfish motivation, (2) the negative impact of such a move, or (3) the issues some psychologists raise in opposing prescribing privileges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)