The Power of Prescribing Psychologists to De-Prescribe
Presented by Roger Clark, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP
Recorded on Thursday, March 14th, 2024
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
While pharmacotherapy can play a useful therapeutic role in the treatment of behavioral health conditions, the widespread use of medication as the first choice for a variety of concerns has led to overprescribing. For example, the use of psychotropic drugs by adult Americans increased 22% from 2001 to 2010. This problem is not unique to behavioral health, but it is in this area of healthcare that the psychologist – especially the medical/prescribing psychologist – can apply knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care for the patient.
In this presentation Dr. Roger Clark will discuss the practice of deprescribing as one of the important components of providing treatment, and one that directly addresses the use of medication when the costs of this treatment outweigh the potential benefits for the patient. A review of the current status of prescription drug use in the United States will be followed by a discussion of reasons/indications to deprescribe, challenges to this aspect of treatment, and deprescribing considerations for the taper and/or discontinuation of several classes of psychotropics.
When attended in full, this program offers 1.0 APA CEs for Psychologists.
While pharmacotherapy can play a useful therapeutic role in the treatment of behavioral health conditions, the widespread use of medication as the first choice for a variety of concerns has led to overprescribing. For example, the use of psychotropic drugs by adult Americans increased 22% from 2001 to 2010. This problem is not unique to behavioral health, but it is in this area of healthcare that the psychologist – especially the medical/prescribing psychologist – can apply knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care for the patient.
In this presentation Dr. Roger Clark will discuss the practice of deprescribing as one of the important components of providing treatment, and one that directly addresses the use of medication when the costs of this treatment outweigh the potential benefits for the patient. A review of the current status of prescription drug use in the United States will be followed by a discussion of reasons/indications to deprescribe, challenges to this aspect of treatment, and deprescribing considerations for the taper and/or discontinuation of several classes of psychotropics.
After attending this advanced-level program, participants will be able to:
- Describe the rise in psychotropic medication use among patients in the US.
- List several reasons to deprescribe including, limiting Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), economic factors, and comorbid conditions.
- Explain several methods to limit withdrawal effects when deprescribing, based on the class of medication being used by a given patient.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 2: Program will enable psychologists to keep pace with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, prevention, intervention, and/or education, as well as important relevant legal, statutory, leadership, or regulatory issues.
Roger Clark, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP; Medical/Prescribing Psychologist, U.S. Army/Defense Health Agency, Child & Family Behavioral Health, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY
Dr. Roger Clark is licensed in Louisiana as a Medical Psychologist. He is also a licensed psychologist in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He has served as an active-duty psychologist for the U.S. Army, operated a private practice, been an adjunct professor for the University of Maryland – Asia Division, and served as a school district consultant for behavioral health. He is currently a Defense Health Agency civilian employee at Fort Campbell, KY. In his current position he serves as the Medical/Prescribing Psychologist for the Child and Family Behavioral Health System. Dr. Clark has completed a fellowship in Pediatric Psychology, is certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and has a Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Bień, B., & Bień-Barkowska, K. (2018). Prescribing or deprescribing in older persons: what are the real-life concerns in geriatric practice? Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewne̦trznej, 128(4), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.20452/pamw.4206
First, M. B., & Zimmerman, M. (2006). Including laboratory tests in DSM-V diagnostic criteria. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(12), 2041-2042.
Gordon, J. A. (2020). Addressing disparities: Advancing mental health care for all Americans. National Institute of Mental Health.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/messages/2020/addressing-disparities-advancing-mental-health-care-for-all-americans.shtml
Hansen, C. R., O’Mahony, D., Kearney, P. M., Sahm, L. J., Cullinan, S., Huibers, C. J. A., Thevelin, S., Rutjes, A. W. S., Knol, W., Streit, S., & Byrne, S. (2018). Identification of behaviour change techniques in deprescribing interventions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 84(12), 2716–2728. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.13742
Reppe, L.A., Spigset, O. & Schjøtt, J. (2016). Drug Information Services Today: Current Role and Future Perspectives in Rational Drug Therapy. Clinical Therapeutics, 38(2), 414-421.
Target Audience: Psychologists.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Non Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.