Basic principles of psychopharmacologic treatment for advanced practice psychiatric nurses with prescriptive...

Over the past decade, a major trend in psychiatric care has been a greater emphasis on the biological aspects of psychiatric disorders, a rapidly expanding pharmacopoeia of efficacious psychotropic agents, and an increase in the use of psychopharmacotherapy in the treatment of mental illness. As mental health care delivery systems strive to address goals of cost containment, access to care, quality of care, and patient satisfaction, the expanded use of advanced practice psychiatric nurse prescribers is a logical conclusion, and prescriptive authority allows for the independence and the full scope of advanced nursing practice. This article outlines 11 basic principles of sound psychopharmacotherapy that can serve as guidelines for the achievement of optimal patient care and favorable patient outcomes.