Clinical psychology and counseling psychology graduate students' attitudes concerning professional psychologists receiving prescription privileges

The field of psychology has considered pursuing prescription privileges sporadically over the last twenty-five years. However, pressures both internally and externally, and ambiguity on the part of psychology's members have created a stalemate on this issue. Existing research provides some information regarding psychologists' desires to receive prescription privileges. Previous research sampling licensed professional psychologists suggests that psychology as a whole is undecided concerning its desire to gain prescription privileges. However, virtually no research has investigated graduate students' (future providers of mental health services) desires to receive privileges. Also, no research has investigated the wide variety of demographic and other variables of the present research, which appear to provide useful information concerning desire to receive prescription privileges.;The present study examined clinical and counseling psychology graduate students' attitudes concerning receiving prescription privileges for psychotropic medications. This research found that the majority of students do at least mildly desire prescription privileges. This research also investigated if variables exist that would hinder or encourage students to desire prescription privileges. This research found that such variables do exist and that many of these variables can accurately predict those that do and do not desire prescription privileges. This research also investigated graduate students' global training, training in psychopharmacology, and their beliefs concerning necessary training to become competent prescribers of psychotropic medications.;The purpose of this dissertation is to delineate future professional psychologists' attitudes toward the acquisition of prescription privileges, and delineate the variables that may facilitate or hinder future professional psychologists from attempting to acquire prescription privileges. This research is necessary to determine if future providers of psychological services desire prescription privileges. It is likely that this information may be useful in determining if it would be fruitful for the field of psychology to pursue such privileges in the future.