Prescribing privileges: grail for some practitioners, potential calamity for interprofessional collaboration in mental health

The focus of this article is the probable consequences, in the event psychologists aggressively pursue prescription privileges (RxP), upon collaboration between psychologists and physicians. The case for RxP is briefly and critically summarized and the current state of collaboration between psychologists and medical professionals is reviewed. Data are presented from a recent small survey of clinical psychologists that support the following hypotheses: (1) psychiatrists and other medical professional receive a consequential volume of referrals from psychologists which would be diminished by RxP; (2) psychologists receive referrals for psychosocial services from medical professionals which would be diminished by RxP; (3) psychologists anticipate an adverse effect upon collaboration from RxP; and (4) contrary to some claims, psychologists are at best divided over RxP. Implications of these findings upon interprofessional collaboration are discussed.