University of Lincoln, UK.
University of Nottingham, UK.
Psychol Psychother. 2021 Apr;94 Suppl 2:359-377. doi: 10.1111/papt.12281. Epub 2020 May 6.
This study aimed to explore whether clinical psychologists in the United Kingdom (UK) have a role with their clients' psychotropic medication by exploring forms of involvement undertaken, and decision-making behind involvement.
A mixed methods design was employed; 147 clinical psychologists took part in an online survey, and 11 respondents were interviewed, selected using intensity sampling.
Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.
All respondents reported having some role with their clients' psychotropic medication. A thematic map diagram was created to capture the process of how clinical psychologists choose to become involved.
Consensus was reached in that clinical psychologists do have a role with their clients' psychotropic medication, although this varies by clinician and takes on many forms. In the light of the changing role, professional guidance would help to promote clarity and consistency.
Clinical psychologists are regularly engaging in roles in relation to their clients' psychotropic medication use despite little guidance or training. Findings identify a range of specific roles in relation to psychotropic medication that psychologists can take including formulating the impact of psychotropic medication, supplying information to support informed consent and withdrawal, and questioning and challenging use of psychotropic medication with colleagues and prescribers. There is a need for further research and consideration around roles given movements towards prescribing rights for psychologists (by the British Psychological Society) and recent guidance published for psychological therapists on enabling conversations with clients withdrawing from or taking psychiatric drugs (Guy et al., 2019, Guidance for psychological therapists: Enabling conversations with clients taking or withdrawing from prescribed psychiatric drugs, APPG for Prescribed Drug Dependence, London, UK).
本研究旨在探讨英国（UK）的临床心理学家是否可以参与其客户的精神药物治疗，探索所参与的形式以及参与背后的决策过程。
采用混合方法设计；147 名临床心理学家参与了在线调查，11 名受访者使用强度抽样法进行了选择并进行了访谈。
分别使用描述性统计和主题分析来分析定量和定性数据。
所有受访者均报告说在一定程度上参与了其客户的精神药物治疗。创建了一个主题图来捕捉临床心理学家选择参与的过程。
达成共识的是，临床心理学家确实在其客户的精神药物治疗中发挥作用，尽管这因临床医生而异，并且有多种形式。鉴于角色的变化，专业指导将有助于提高清晰度和一致性。
尽管临床心理学家在精神药物治疗方面的指导或培训很少，但他们仍经常参与与客户精神药物使用有关的角色。研究结果确定了一系列与精神药物相关的具体角色，心理学家可以承担这些角色，包括制定精神药物的影响，提供信息以支持知情同意和停药，以及与同事和处方者质疑和挑战精神药物的使用。鉴于心理学家（英国心理学会）争取开处方的权利以及最近为心理治疗师发布的关于与正在服用或停止服用精神科药物的客户进行对话的指南（APPG for Prescribed Drug Dependence，London，UK），需要进一步研究和考虑这些角色。
