Current Practices and Future Directions in Psychopharmacological Training and Collaboration in School Psychology

Abstract

School psychologists frequently examine children who are prescribed psychotropic medications. With advanced training in psychological assessment and professional consultation, school psychologists may play an integral role in assisting with children’s psychopharmacological treatment regimens. In this vein, this article discusses various ways for school psychologists to overcome barriers to collaborating with physicians including, strategies to overcoming obstacles related to cross-discipline information sharing time or workload constraints, communication challenges, and professional role expectations. Finally, the article discusses ways for school psychology students or practitioners of school psychology to increase their knowledge of pediatric psychopharmacology relative to their current training or experience.

Les psychologues scolaires voient fréquemment des enfants auxquels sont prescrites des médications psychotropes. Avec une formation avancée en évaluation psychologique ainsi qu’en consultation professionnelle, les psychologues scolaires peuvent jouer un rôle intégral en assistant avec les régimes de traitements psychopharmacologiques des enfants. Dans cette veine, nous discutons des façons variées afin que les psychologues scolaires puissent surmonter les barrières pour collaborer avec les médecins, incluant des stratégies pour surmonter les obstacles reliés au partage d’informations entre disciplines, aux contraintes de temps ou de charge de travail, aux défis de communication ainsi qu’aux attentes quant au rôle professionnel. Finalement, nous discutons des façons avec lesquelles les étudiants en psychologie scolaire ou les praticiens de psychologie scolaire pourront accroître leur connaissance de la psychopharmacologie pédiatrique reliée à leur formation ou expérience actuelles

Keywords

pediatric psychopharmacology school psychology consultation medication management prescription privileges

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