Prescribing Together: A Relational Guide to Psychopharmacology

Prescribing Together argues that human-to-human relationship-building is critical to prescribing more effectively and achieving health equity. It offers practical introductions to key concepts and skills for building strong alliances in the context of 13 mental disorder categories, with profiles of accomplished clinicians serving as an engaging foundation for evidence-based strategies.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 296 pages
\n Publication date: 01 August 2021
\n Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing
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What if, rather than acting solely as dispensers of medication, mental health clinicians and primary care clinicians treating mental disorders were also collaborators with patients in the prescribing relationship? It's a simple but profound shift in how to think about approaching psychopharmacology, and in Prescribing Together, Warren Kinghorn and Abraham Nussbaum argue that this sort of human-to-human relationship-building is critical to prescribing more effectively and to achieving health equity.

While many other books have focused on what to prescribe for given conditions, this volume is more concerned with how to prescribe: how to talk to patients about medications, how to understand the cultural and social factors that affect how both clinicians and patients relate to medication, and how to build trust in the relationship. Each chapter offers a practical introduction to at least one key concept or skill, from cultural formation and structural competency to medication concordance and deprescribing. Profiles, rich in personal anecdotes, of a diverse group of accomplished clinicians serve as an engaging, real-life foundation for evidence-based strategies for building strong alliances in the context of 13 mental disorder categories, including:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Borderline personality disorder

In drawing a contrast between a dispenser and a collaborator model, Prescribing Together encourages clinicians not just to look at their patients, but to look with them at their lived experience, to understand their stories and interpersonal and social contexts—all with the aim of returning agency to patients and empowering them to set meaningful goals and to be active participants in their care.

This approach recognizes that prescribing is not just about the medication itself, but about the broader context of a patient's life and health. By working together with patients, clinicians can better understand their needs and preferences, and develop personalized treatment plans that take into account not only the symptoms of the disorder but also the patient's social, emotional, and functional needs.

Moreover, by building trust in the relationship, clinicians can create a sense of safety and comfort that allows patients to be open and honest about their experiences and concerns. This can lead to better medication adherence, improved outcomes, and a greater sense of empowerment and control over their lives.

In conclusion, Prescribing Together offers a valuable perspective on the prescribing relationship and highlights the importance of collaboration and patient-centered care in mental health treatment. By adopting a human-to-human approach, clinicians can better meet the needs of their patients and achieve better health outcomes.

\n Weight: 274g\n
Dimension: 115 x 206 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781615372881\n \n