Medical Psychologists May Prescribe Medication

Under the provisions of a 2004 Louisiana law, medical psychologists are permitted to prescribe medications for mental and emotional disorders.  Louisiana is the second state (after New Mexico) to authorize specially trained psychologists to add medication to their treatment options. 

All licensed psychologists have doctoral degrees.  Medical psychologists are clinical psychologists who have earned an additional master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology.  They also must meet other requirements to be certified to prescribe.  The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (www.LSBEP.org) is responsible for issuing certificates of prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists.

Only medications for the treatment of mental and emotional disorders may be prescribed by medical psychologists.  In addition, consultation with and concurrence of a patient’s primary or attending physician is required.  Psychologist-physician collaboration is designed to improve quality of care and insure that all of a patient’s health care needs are properly addressed.

Although medication plays an important role in the treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders, experts recognize that the best approach for many disorders combines counseling or psychotherapy with medication management.  Medical psychologists are well suited to develop the best treatment plan for an individual patient. 

Most medical psychologists are members the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists (LAMP) as well as LPA.  LAMP is a professional organization established to advance the practice of medical psychology.  LAMP and LPA work together to improve access to comprehensive health care, increase efficiency of care delivery, and foster high standards of care for Louisiana residents. 

The number of medical psychologists in Louisiana is growing.  To locate one in your area, click on Find a Psychologist.  Under Areas of Practice, select Medication Prescribing and your region of the state.