I am looking for feedback related to the prescriptive authority for psychologists (RxP) movement: this is meant to fill the void of psychiatrists, a gap in which many APNs are being utilized. This is currently only written into law in New Mexico (2002), Louisiana (2004), and as of a few months ago, Illinois.
An argument central to RxP is that other non-physicians have prescription authorities (APNs, pharmacists, PAs, etc), despite the fact that many clinical psychologists have many more years of education. My personal view on this is that the argument is invalid to the core- the aforementioned individuals receive training on anatomy and physiology from the beginning of their schooling, and continue throughout their education, gaining hands-on clinical experience in all realms of healthcare before they can even graduate. Psychologists, alternatively, focus on the mind/brain, receiving minimal exposure to medical content and conditions.
My concern is that by loosening the limitations of prescribing to those who have no medical background to speak of, we are lessening the appreciation for the complexities of the human mind & body, while putting patients at greater risk, and as APNs will be forced into a position a meeting unrealistic expectations to compete with a potential market flooding due to RxP.
I could be sounding an alarm senselessly, but I am wondering if anyone out there has an opinion, experience, or thought related to this?