RXP RESEARCH
RECENT RXP RESEARCH IS HELPING STATE, PROVINCIAL, AND NATIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE THE CASE FOR PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS.
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Dr. Bailey-Sawatzky has selected a few of her favourite recent research articles, dissertations, and masters thesis projects that she has no doubt will help you in your legislative efforts. Please note that many of these articles may require you to purchase the article, as per the authors' copyright and publishing agreements.
Click the button above to email Dr. Erinn to get a FREE copy of her full research paper!
01
Prescribing Psychologists: A Systematic Literature Review with Considerations for Canada
Author: Erinn C. Bailey-Sawatzky (2024)​Purchase Link: https://www.proquest.com/docview/3131731496/previewPDF/B0F9FB4984E241FFPQ/1?sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses
Content: Four research questions answered through a systematic literature review related to RxP safety, competence, training in comparison to other prescribers, colleague and patient experiences with RxPs, and how RxPs are being utilized in the healthcare system.
Includes: specific recommendations for RxP implementation in Canada.
02
Evaluating the Impact of Prescriptive Authority for Psychologists on the Rate of Deaths Attributed to Mental Illness
Authors: Phillip M Hughes, Robert E McGrath, Kathleen C Thomas (2023)
Content: Five states have enacted policies granting prescriptive authority to psychologists in an effort to increase access to psychoactive medications; however, little is known regarding the public health impact of these policies. Policies in two of these states, New Mexico and Louisiana, have had sufficient time to license more than a handful of prescribing psychologists. This study estimates the impact of psychologist prescriptive authority policies in New Mexico and Louisiana on deaths attributable to mental illness and suicides.
03
Examining Psychologists Prescriptive Authority as a Cost- Effective Strategy for Reducing Suicide Rates
Authors: Phillip M Hughes, Derek C Phillips, Robert E McGrath, Kathleen C Thomas (2023)
Link: APA PsycNet Buy Page​
Content: Six states (New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, and Colorado) grant prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists, and research has shown that these policies are associated with a reduction in suicides. In this study, we assess the cost-effectiveness of these policies in reducing suicide rates.
04
Psychotropic Medication Prescribing Across Medical Providers (2016-2019)
Authors: Phillip M Hughes, Izabella E Annis, Robert E McGrath, Kathleen C Thomas
Content: The authors sought to provide updated estimates of the proportion of psychotropic medications prescribed by different medical providers.
05
Simulating the Impact of Psychologist Prescribing Authority Policies on Mental Health Prescriber Shortages
Phillip M Hughes, Robert E McGrath, Kathleen C Thomas (2024)
​Link: APA PsycNet Buy Page
Content: This study simulated the impact of granting prescriptive authority to licensed psychologists on shortages of mental health providers with prescriptive authority.
06
Pediatric Mental Health Care and Scope of Practice Expansions
Authors: Phillip M Hughes, Genevieve Graaf, Kristin H Gigli, Neal A deJong, Robert E McGrath, Kathleen C Thomas (2024)
Link: Pediatric Mental Health Care and Scope-of-Practice Expansions - PMC (nih.gov)
Content: To examine the association between psychologist and nurse practitioner scope-of-practice (SoP) regulations and pediatric mental health service access.
07
Scope of Practice Expansions Associated with Reduced Racial Disparities in Pediatric Mental Health
Authors: Phillip M Hughes, Genevive Graaf, Kristin H Gigli, Neal A deJong, Robert E McGrath, Kathleen C Thomas (2024)
Content: To examine the association between scope-of-practice (SoP) regulations and racial disparities in pediatric mental health services. We used the National Survey of Children’s Health (2016–2020; n = 33,790) to examine racial disparities in unmet mental health care needs and receipt of mental health medication between states with and without SoP expansions for psychologists and nurse practitioners (NP).
08
Comparing Psychopharmacological Prescriber Training Models
Authors: RR Cooper (2020)
Content: The debate over whether psychologists with postdoctoral degrees in psychopharmacology are adequately trained to prescribe (RxP), has grown increasingly contested over the years. Five states, the US government, and Guam currently allow psychologists with advanced training to prescribe limited medications. The literature is wrought with strong opinions on both sides of the debate. RxP opposers argue that the prescribing psychologists’ training is truncated and less effective than other available options (medical and nursing school); while RxP supporters argue that medical school is essentially overkill for prescribing psychology’s narrow aim, and that nursing schools are less rigorous than the postdoctoral training uniquely designed for psychologists. Comparing each prescriber’s basic competence, side-by-side, via examination, had never been attempted (each has their own licensing examination). This study tested 66 providers: psychiatrists, general physicians, psychiatric nurse practitioners, general nurse practitioners, prescribing psychologists, and general psychologists.
09
Prescribing Psychologists: Forgotten Providers in the Battle Against Opioid Use Disorder
Hughes, P. M., Phillips, D. C., & Fagan, E. B. (2023). Prescribing psychologists: Forgotten providers in the battle against opioid use disorder. Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16204
10
Assessing Psychologists' Intentions...
Hughes, P. M., Warner, D. N., Phillips, D. C., McGrath, R. E., & Thomas, K. C. (2024). Assessing psychologists’ intentions to become licensed prescribers in Pennsylvania using the theory of planned behavior. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 55(4), 324–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000575
10
Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients of...
Hughes, P. M., Niznik, J. D., McGrath, R. E., Tak, C. R., Christian, R. B., Sleath, B. L., & Thomas, K. C. (2024b). Demographics and clinical characteristics of patients of prescribing psychologists, psychiatrists, and primary care physicians. American Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001352