Medical psychology

Medical Psychology refers to an emerging branch of clinical psychological practice in which psychologists, who have undergone additional specialized education and training, may prescribe medications in the care and management of patients. In the United States, New Mexico and Louisiana, and several branches of the military currently authorize these psychologists to prescribe medications. In Louisiana, the term of 'medical psychologist' refers, in statute, specifically to those psychologists authorized and licensed to prescribe medications, and mirrors precisely the terminology of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The definition of "Medical psychology" approved by Division 55 of the American Psychological Association (APA), "is that branch of psychology that integrates somatic and psychotherapeutic modalities into the management of mental illness and emotional, cognitive, behavioral and substance use disorders. Medical psychologists may, where legally authorized, prescribe, order or consult regarding prescriptions of somatic treatment modalities, and monitor medications and/or other somatic treatment interventions, as well as order and interpret laboratory studies or other medical diagnostic studies such as might be consistent with enabling state statutes." (ASAP - Tablet 8.4, 2)

Behavioral Medicine (related to Clinical Health Psychology and Psychosomatic Medicine) is a related branch of clinical practice in which highly trained psychologists emphasize the biopsychosocial approach to medicine, a model which recognizes the impotance of addressing the interaction between physical, psychological and social factores in both the prevention and management of disease. Practioners of behavioral medicine differ from medical psychologists in that they focus on the scientific application of behavioral interventions to a wide variety of medical conditions (e.g., asthma, gastrointestinal illnesses, cardiac conditions, spinal cord and brain injuries, chronic pain, headaches, and addictive illness.

Education

An important contribution of medical psychology is in the education of patients (psychoeducation) in disease processes. Frequently, such patient and family education insures a substantially better adherence to the treatment recommendations. Medical psychologists are particularly successful in the treatment of asthma, gastrointestinal illnesses, cardiac conditions, spinal cord and brain injuries, chronic pain, headaches, and addictions (drugs, smoking, eating disorders, alcohol, etc.).

This definition has expanded and today the medical psychologists obtain additional postdoctoral studies after they get their doctoral degree (Ph.D., or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology.

In 2006, the American Psychological Association (APA) recommended to integrate:

The following Clinical Competences: I. Basic Science: anatomy, & physiology, biochemistry; II. Neurosciences: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry; III. Physical Assessment and Laboratory Exams: physical assessment, laboratory and radiological assessment, medical terminology and documentation and integration of this assessments and documentation; IV. Clinical Medicine and Pathophysiology: pathophysiology with emphasis on the principal physiological systems, clinical medicine, differential diagnosis, clinical correlation and case studies, chemical dependency and chronic pain management, integration of this topics; V. Clinical and Research Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology: pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenetics, psychopharmacology, developmental psychopharmacology, integration of this topics through supervised clinical or laboratory experience in Clinical Medicine and ongoing treatment monitoring and evaluation; VI. Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics: professional, ethical and legal issues, combined therapies and its interactions, computer-based aids to practice, pharmacoepidemiology, integration of this knowledge through supervised clinical experience or laboratory experience; VII. Research: methodology and design of psychopharmacology research, interpretation and evaluation, FDA drug development and other regulatory processes, and with the Supervised Clinical Experience while they applied their clinical knowledge, and were assessed in their practical skills and competencies.

See also

• Health psychology

External links

http://division55.org/ American Psychological Association - Division 55 - American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy

http://division55.org/ContinuingEducation.htm Postdoctoral training programs in clinical psychopharmacology

http://www.apapractice.org/apo/insider/professional/psychopharmacology.html# Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP)

http://division55.org/TabletOnline.htm Division 55 newsletter "The Tablet" Template:Psychology