The California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University developed the nation’s first Postdoctoral Master of Science Program in Clinical Psychopharmacology. Since its inception in 1998, our students and graduates, as well as state and national professional organizations, look to us as leaders in the field. Close to 500 psychologists in 40 states have graduated or are currently enrolled in our program.
Classes are held over the Internet, using a sophisticated real-time interactive system called Elluminate. All classes are live, and will be archived electronically in case a student is not able to attend synchronously. Students participate in classes from their own computer, or, if desired, make personal arrangements with other local students to participate together at the home or office of one of the students. The Elluminate platform provides opportunities for study sessions, chats, sharing of references and related readings, and many other learning resources.
In 2004, Louisiana became the second state to grant prescription authority to psychologists. The first 50 Louisiana psychologists to qualify for prescription authority in Louisiana all graduated from our program, and on February 18, 2005, one of our graduates (and current faculty member), John Bolter, PhD, became the first civilian psychologist to write a prescription. As of April, 2011, our graduates in Louisiana estimate that they have safely written over 250,000 prescriptions.
At the 2004 convention of the American Psychological Association, two Alliant faculty members were given awards by APA Division 55 (American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy) in recognition of their roles as “pioneers” in postdoctoral psychopharmacology education.
Also in 2004, our Program was selected by APA Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) to partner with them on a nationwide project to train public service psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications. We were honored to have been selected for this historic initiative. Over 35 psychologists from Division 18 graduated from our Program including eight Indian Health Service psychologists.
In addressing the need for extensive postdoctoral training in psychopharmacology, the faculty considered several developments affecting the delivery of mental health services:
• The rapid expansion in knowledge of biological substrates of many mental disorders, and the need to integrate pharmacological and psychological treatments.
• The practices of managed care resulting in the majority of psychotropic medications being prescribed by primary care physicians who have neither specialized training in mental health, nor sufficient time to evaluate mental health needs.
• State legislation in California encouraging psychologists at both the doctoral and postdoctoral levels to obtain additional training in the areas of biological psychology, medical psychology, and behavioral neuroscience in order to collaborate more effectively with primary care physicians in treating patients with mental disorders.
• Statistics showing that fewer psychiatrists are being trained by U.S. medical schools, with almost 50% of psychiatric residencies filled by graduates of medical schools outside the U.S.
• The documented shortage of mental health professionals trained to meet the psychopharmacological needs of rural and underserved populations.
The overall goals of the Postdoctoral Master of Science Program in Clinical Psychopharmacology are to educate practicing psychologists to work collaboratively with other health care professionals who prescribe medication, to integrate medication and its management in treatment of mental behavioral disorders, and to prescribe safely and effectively in states and federal agencies that allow psychologists to prescribe. The program conforms to the recommended curriculum of the American Psychological Association, including courses in Clinical Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Pathophysiology/Clinical Medicine, Pharmacology, Psychopharmacology, Special Populations (including gender and ethnic issues, child, geriatric, chemical dependency, chronic pain and chronic medical conditions), Pharmacotherapeutics, and Physical Assessment/Laboratory Examinations. The program curriculum requires 462 hours, including an 18-hour Review Course for the PEP (Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists). The curriculum is designed with the rigor and breadth necessary to train professionals in psychopharmacology. At the same time, it focuses on issues central to the clinical demands and interests of practicing psychologists. The program is committed to incorporate additional guidelines of the American Psychological Association as they develop.
Admission to the program is available to licensed psychologists who hold a doctoral degree. Graduates holding a doctorate from an APA-accredited program in clinical psychology, who are in the process of meeting their postdoctoral licensure requirements, may be admitted, subject to a review by the Program Director.
The program offers:
• In-depth, systematic training in the scientific foundations and clinical applications of psychopharmacology
• The Postdoctoral Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology
• Continuing Education credit for most courses
Program Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes
On completion of this Program, students will have a basic understanding of:
1) The scientific foundations of psychopharmacology, including (but not limited to)
• Biochemical foundations of psychopharmacology
• Normal human anatomy and physiology, specifically the neurological, endocrine, gastrointestinal, metabolic, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, renal, and reproductive systems
• The relationship of medical disease to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms
2) The clinical applications of psychopharmacology, including
• Basic classes of prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and herbal and nutritional products, and how these interact with psychopharmacological agents
• The major classes of medications related to mental illness, specifically indications, side effects, toxic effects and discontinuation syndromes, as well as drug-drug interactions
• Use of psychoactive medications with specific populations, including different age and ethnic groups, gender, and co-morbid conditions such as chronic medical disease, chronic pain, chemical dependency, etc.
3) Research and legal/ethical issues related to the practice of psychopharmacology.
Additionally students will:
1) feel sufficiently knowledgeable in psychopharmacology to engage in collaborative assessment and treatment planning with prescribing professionals (or to pursue prescription authority in jurisdictions where it is authorized);
2) have sufficient knowledge of psychoactive medications to judge which patients are likely to benefit from pharmacotherapy, and the appropriate medication regimen;
3) understand contraindications and risks of psychoactive medication, including in special populations (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, medical diagnosis);
4) be able to use available resources to obtain up-to-date evidence-based information in specific medications and treatment guidelines
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