The time has come for psychiatric pharmacy to set in writing and publicly declare our principles, beliefs, and intentions with this psychiatric pharmacy manifesto. The word manifesto comes from the Latin word manifestum, which means clear or conspicuous. For some, the word manifesto carries a negative connotation since it has more recently been associated with revolution or violent social change. But used to its true purpose, it is where we can speak our mind, and publicly and clearly declare our intentions and beliefs to those within and outside our profession. Psychiatric pharmacy has a long history,
All individuals receiving pharmacotherapy for a mental illness should be fully educated about their disorder and their drug therapy, and have appropriate expectations of their treatment. Clinicians who treat these individuals should ensure that therapeutic outcomes are maximized, and adverse effects are minimized and appropriately managed. For over 40 years, some pharmacists have specialized in providing pharmaceutical care to individuals receiving psychotherapeutic medication. As a member of an interprofessional treatment team, the psychiatric pharmacist focuses on optimizing drug treatment by monitoring clinical response, recognizing and managing drug-induced problems, recommending appropriate treatment plans, ensuring that baseline and follow-up laboratory tests and physical assessments pertinent to drug therapy are ordered and utilized, and counseling the patient and family members about their medication.
The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) evolved from a group of psychiatric and neurologic specialists known as the "Conference of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists" that met at the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Annual Meetings. These meetings served as a once a year opportunity for networking, recruitment of residency and fellowship candidates, and a venue to brainstorm and problem solve. The discussions eventually turned towards establishing an organization for those pharmacists with the common interest of serving as advocates for the treatment and medication therapy management of those with mental illness and neurologic complications. After months
With the establishment of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) manifesto and Dr. Stimmel's vision, our members need to evaluate how we as a profession are progressing toward or away from the goals and mission statement of the manifesto. The manifesto correctly states that the public and most health care providers view pharmacists in a dispensing role. However, polling the CPNP Past Presidents' Council, the majority believe the manifesto will become obsolete and in need of revision in ten years. The ability to make the manifesto “obsolete” and “commonplace” rests on how our profession navigates the legislature that
Steven Burghart, DPh, MBA, BCPP Psychiatric pharmacists and members of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) recognize the importance of consumer education and advocacy. CPNP has a long-standing and close working relationship with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).1 Members make presentations at local support groups and state and national conventions. CPNP members also participate in NAMI education programs such as Family to Family and Crisis Intervention Team training. To date, CPNP has authored forty one medication education sheets and eighteen “Ask the Psychiatric Pharmacist” columns that are available onCPNP IS ENGAGED WITH CONSUMERS
The section of the manifesto addressing “our commitment to patient care” is what I believe to be the core of pharmacy practice, regardless of specialty. As psychiatric pharmacists, we have a great responsibility in providing health care to a population that in many areas is underserved by their community. These patients often hesitate to seek assistance, whether due to the stigma of mental illness and lack of insight, access to services, or trust in others. Psychiatric and neurologic specialty pharmacists must establish themselves as compassionate, respectful healthcare providers that will provide prescribers and patients with the highest quality of service.
On a national and international level, psychiatric pharmacists are making contributions to the care of patients with mental health disorders in regards to how to manage their medications and improve their quality of life. By working in collaboration with other health care professionals including nurses, physicians, and students in training, psychiatric pharmacists have positively impacted patients in many ways and in a variety of practice settings.1–5 Educating patients has become a vital role for psychiatric pharmacists. This patient counseling can include explaining how the medications work, the importance of adherence, and potential adverse effects. Rickels et al
Carla Cobb, PharmD, BCPP With Positioning, Advancement, Awareness and Development have become key words in my vocabulary in my daily life as a psychiatric pharmacist and in my work as CPNP Legislative Committee Chair, member of the Behavioral Health Care Pharmacist Integration into Primary Care Task Force, and CPNP Foundation Board Member. Although the key words included in the CPNP Psychiatric Pharmacy Manifesto may not use these exact key words, the same theme is evident throughout the manifesto. The manifesto envisions a future we should all should be striving toward, both as a member ofCALL TO ACTION
“Tell me about what it is that you do professionally.” This question is notorious for rendering speechless even the most raconteur-like of pharmacists. I often feel that I do not do a great job with the “elevator speech” describing what we are about professionally. “So you work in a drugstore inside a psychiatric hospital?”… “Well, not exactly, but…” . As a group, clinical pharmacists have great difficulty relating effectively to others what it is that we do. This difficulty clearly extends to specialty practice areas, such as psychiatric and neurologic pharmacy practitioners. Recognizing this barrier to effectively communicating to those
The Consumer Relations Committee represented the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) at the 2011 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Annual Convention, which was held in Chicago, Illinois July 6–9. CPNP members manned a booth during the convention and provided a workshop entitled “Suicidality and Risks of Medications Used to Treat Mental Illness.” Each year NAMI Annual Convention attendees are asked to complete a survey to help CPNP better understand the awareness attendees have about psychiatric pharmacists. At the same time, this survey is intended to educate them about the availability of psychiatric pharmacists. The survey asks a
CPNP members maintain a suggested reading list to provide information on peer recommended resources and convenient access to the highest quality neuropsychopharmacology publications. A reminder that if you shop with CPNP, by following the links below to Amazon, a small commission will be paid to CPNP which helps to financially support our mission to improve the minds and lives of individuals with psychiatric and/or neurologic disorders. You can help grow this list of resources by suggesting a book. Book: Studying a Study and Testing a Test, How to Read the Medical Evidence 5th Edition.
CPNP Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the consideration of over 80 individuals for 3 positions on the 2011–2013 CPNP Board of Directors. This list of highly qualified individuals is now narrowed to a slate of 6 candidates as listed below. All active category members of CPNP will be offered the opportunity to vote for 1 candidate for each person starting October 24. Be looking for weekly update and email messages when the voting center is opened. Congratulations and good luck to each candidate! President Elect Candidates:COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRIC AND NEUROLOGIC PHARMACISTS ANNOUNCES SLATE FOR 2011–2013 BOARD OFFICER ELECTION