A TRAINING MODEL FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS WITH PRESCRIPTION PRIVILEGES - CLINICAL PHARMACOPSYCHOLOGISTS

This article presents a training model for prescribing psychologists. Training for independent psychology practitioners is modeled after a t raining program drafted by the international Neuropsychological Societ y-Division 40 Task Force for Neuropsychology. In the proposed model, t he prescribing psychologist is trained as a specialist within clinical psychology. The term used to describe this specialist, clinical pharm acopsychologist, emphasizes psychology as the underlying field and is homologous with clinical neuropsychologist. Not all clinical psycholog ists will have this privilege because it is a specialty in its own rig ht, which requires specific didactic and experiential training. During the transition period before the appearance of clinical pharmacopsych ologists on clinical psychology faculties, prospective prescribing psy chologists will obtain specialty training primarily in medical setting s.