Role of Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in child and adolescent psychiatry (2024)

Background

In the context of ongoing workforce shortages, rising symptom severity, and increased rates of psychotropic prescribing, the 2021 declaration of a national emergency in child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) has highlighted the need for innovative strategies to address access to quality care. As valued members of the interdisciplinary team, Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists (BCPPs) in CAP are well positioned to address these needs as they are integrated across various settings (e.g., ambulatory clinics, psychiatric hospitals) and have expertise in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) initiated this exploration of the role of BCPPs in CAP and a general literature search was completed by the author group.

Description of Innovative Service

The authors describe the role of BCPPs in CAP, unique patient populations served, childhood conditions treated, and Joint Commission regulatory standards that BCPPs in CAP can support. Knowing that we are currently experiencing a national emergency in CAP, we offer that highlighting the role of BCPPs in CAP is timely and necessary.

Impact on Patient Care

BCPP collaboration with child and adolescent psychiatrists has been reported to improve outcomes (e.g., reduced hospital stays and reduced emergency department visits), quality of care (e.g., improved patient engagement/adherence), and patient safety (e.g., prevented adverse events). The authors expect the impact on patient care to specifically include: 1) optimizing pediatric-specific Hospital Based Inpatient Psychiatric Services (HBIPS) measure sets (e.g., atypical antipsychotic metabolic monitoring, antipsychotic prescribing, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication follow-up), 2) enhancing the patient/family experience through education and collaborative decision making, and 3) improving prescribing practices in at-risk youth (e.g., foster care, NDDs) through utilization of comprehensive medication management and psychotropic stewardship.

Conclusion

As educators and advocates for evidence-based psychotropic medication management, BCPPs in CAP decrease polypharmacy, increase medication adherence and knowledge, and enhance patient outcomes. Given the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among BCPPs, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and primary care providers, it is crucial for pharmacy administrators to respond and recognize the necessity of integrating pharmacy services into CAP and integrating BCPPs into pharmacy departments.