Prescription Privileges for Non-Mds: A Retrospective Look at the Department of Defense Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project and Its Influence on the Profession of Psychology (Psychology ISSUES‪)‬

Abstract A pioneering precedent for the profession of psychology was established when New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson (R) signed legislation enabling properly trained psychologists prescription privileges of psychotropic medications. Following that landmark decision, Louisiana became the second state to pass legislation authorizing psychologists to prescribe certain medications for the treatment of mental health disorders. Subsequently, several more states have introduced legislation to expand psychologists' scope of practice to include prescription privileges. The issuance for prescription privileges for psychologists by New Mexico and Louisiana will not only affect the role of current and future clinical psychologists, but may have implications for practitioners within other medical and mental health professions as well.