Where do psychiatric and neurologic pharmacists practice and what do they do?

Pharmacists at the San Diego VA Healthcare System help answer this question in an online video: "What does it mean to be a neuropsychiatric pharmacist?" The specialty is gaining momentum and recognition in such publications as Pharmacy Today which published:

A psychiatric pharmacist is a pharmacist that has extensive knowledge regarding psychiatric medications. Likewise, neurologic pharmacists have extensive knowledge regarding neurologic medications. Often, these two areas of pharmacy practice overlap. Both types of pharmacists can be involved in many diverse roles. Practice areas are broad and include positions ranging from involvement with drug research and development to those with direct patient contact. Still others are involved in mentoring and teaching pharmacists, physicians and nurses currently in training. Examples of practice areas include:

No matter what the practice, patient care and safety are top priorities of psychiatric and neurologic pharmacists. Most psychiatric and neurologic pharmacists spend the bulk of their time consulting with physicians, psychiatrists, or neurologists. Other core responsibilities can include:

  • Teaching pharmacy, nursing and medical students / residents / practitioners
  • Conducting medication education groups for consumers
  • Educating patients and families on psychiatric medications, as well as psychiatric disorders and other related conditions (eg – diabetes, hypertension, various neurologic diseases like stroke, headaches, seizure disorders, or movement disorders)
  • Assisting in formulary decisions for public and private institutions
  • Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to optimize drug therapy
  • Providing direct patient care  including treatment assessment and medication management activities
  • Monitoring for potential adverse drug reactions and interactions
  • Evaluating and educating others on medical literature
  • Conducting original research (eg – clinical trials, pharmacogenomics, epidemiology)
  • Publishing in peer-reviewed journals / books
  • Engaging in patient advocacy efforts both independently and with consumer groups  (e.g. - NAMI)
Login or register to help identify topics from this page.

This page may contain content contributed by CPNP members or aggregated from other online sources. This content is provided as an unmoderated service to members for civil discussion and collaboration. Any opinions, conclusions, or recommendations are those of the author. If you come across any abuse or violation of the terms of use, please report the abuse.