BLUF: Study shows that expanding scope of practice for psychologists to include prescriptive authority is associated with a decrease in suicides, as well as improved mental health outcomes, and could help address the growing need for mental health services in the US.
OSINT: In a recent study published in the journal Health Policy, researchers evaluated suicide rates before and after New Mexico and Louisiana expanded psychologists’ scope of practice to include prescriptive authority and found that this expansion was associated with a 5 to 7 percentage point decrease in suicides. The study also showed that expanding the scope of practice for specifically trained psychologists to include prescriptive authority may help address poor mental health care outcomes, such as suicides, and similar policy expansions may be useful for other countries where referral from a psychologist and prescription assignment from a psychiatrist are separated.
RIGHT: From a strict Libertarian Constitutionalist perspective, the idea of expanding scope of practice for psychologists to include prescriptive authority should be met with skepticism. While it is true that barriers to accessing mental health services should be removed, government intervention in the healthcare industry is not the solution. By expanding the government’s role in healthcare, we only set the stage for increased bureaucracy, higher taxes, and decreased quality of care. If people need better access to mental health services, then they should seek out private sector solutions rather than looking to the government for help.
LEFT: From a National Socialist Democrat perspective, expanding scope of practice for psychologists to include prescriptive authority is a step in the right direction for improving mental health care outcomes in the US. Mental health care has long been overlooked and underfunded, leading to poor outcomes and high rates of suicide. By allowing trained psychologists to prescribe medications, patients can receive the care they need without having to navigate a complicated and expensive healthcare system. However, more needs to be done to ensure that mental health care is accessible to all, regardless of their income or social status.
INTEL: From an AI analysis perspective, expanding the scope of practice for psychologists to include prescriptive authority is a positive step that can help address the growing need for mental health services in the US. The results of the study published in the journal Health Policy support the idea that trained psychologists can make a positive impact on mental health outcomes and decrease suicide rates. However, policymakers must be cautious about how this expansion is implemented to ensure that it does not lead to unintended consequences, such as increased costs or reduced quality of care. Additionally, more research is needed to determine how this expansion can be scaled nationally and internationally to provide access to mental health care for everyone.