Psychotropic prescriptive patterns among nurse practitioners in nonpsychiatric settings

This study explores mental health care treatment among primary care nurse practitioners. Forty-two nurse practitioners from a variety of specialty practice areas responded to a questionnaire focusing on mental health care management in their practice setting. Results showed that 95% of the nurse practitioners encountered clients with mental illness in their practices. The most common psychiatric disorders seen among the nurse practitioners were depression and anxiety disorders. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder was the most frequently encountered mental illness among the pediatric nurse practitioners. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were also encountered by nurse practitioners in a variety of settings, though with less frequency. Seventy-six percent of the nurse practitioners reported prescribing psychotropic medications. Details of the nurse practitioners' prescriptive patterns are described. Recommendations for further research are discussed, and the need for continuing education in psychopharmacology among primary care nurse practitioners is highlighted.