Revolutionizing Psychopharmacology: The Collaborative Approach

What if mental health clinicians and primary care clinicians treating mental disorders shifted their approach from mere dispensers of medication to collaborators with patients in the prescribing relationship? This simple yet profound shift can lead to more effective prescribing and a step closer to achieving health equity, argue Warren Kinghorn and Abraham Nussbaum in their groundbreaking book, Prescribing Together.

A Human-Centric Approach to Psychopharmacology

Unlike other books that focus on what to prescribe for given conditions, Prescribing Together delves into the how – how to talk to patients about medications, how to understand the cultural and social factors that influence the clinician-patient relationship, and how to build trust. Each chapter offers practical insights into key concepts and skills, including cultural formation, structural competency, medication concordance, and deprescribing.

Real-Life Examples and Evidence-Based Strategies

The book features engaging profiles of accomplished clinicians, sharing personal anecdotes and real-life experiences that illustrate evidence-based strategies for building strong alliances with patients. These profiles cover 13 mental disorder categories, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, neurocognitive disorders, and borderline personality disorder.

Empowering Patients, Achieving Flourishing

By adopting a collaborative approach, clinicians can return agency to patients, empowering them to set meaningful goals and participate actively in their own flourishing. Prescribing Together encourages clinicians to look not just at their patients but with them, understanding their stories, interpersonal, and social contexts.

Book Details

Published by American Psychiatric Association Publishing on June 2, 2021