Optimizing Psychiatric Medication Prescribing for Young Patients: A Partnership-Building Approach

By Shashank V. Joshi, author of “Thinking About Prescribing”, a groundbreaking book that challenges traditional pharmacotherapeutic practices, especially when it comes to prescribing psychiatric medications to young patients.

The book’s central premise is that our remedies are only as effective as the way we dispense them. It emphasizes the importance of building an ongoing alliance with youth and their parents or legal guardians, rather than simply viewing prescribing as part of a clinical visit.

A Partnership-Based Approach to Pharmacotherapy

“Thinking About Prescribing” makes a strong case for a partnership that is built on measured candor, vulnerability, and time. By leveraging the expertise of over two dozen experts, the book tackles key topics, including:

• The essential features of the Common Factors approach and the Y-model of psychotherapy, highlighting the importance of relational aspects in child and adolescent psychiatric practice.
• Effective strategies for utilizing the 30-minute Brief Pharmacotherapy Visit (BPV) to nurture the alliance and optimize time.
• Techniques adapted from evidence-based psychotherapies to enhance medication adherence in diverse youth populations.
• Approaches to adapt psychoeducation for culturally diverse populations and address potential skepticism towards pharmacotherapeutic interventions.
• Strategies for cultivating a pharmacotherapeutic alliance when engaging with patients and families via telehealth, including in school settings.
• Tips for pediatricians, advanced-practice clinicians, and other primary care providers who conduct pharmacotherapy.

Each chapter features key takeaways that distill the most salient points, aiding in knowledge retention and practical application.

A Realistic Approach to Pharmacotherapy

Rather than raising unrealistic expectations, “Thinking About Prescribing” acknowledges the realities of practicing pharmacotherapy with limited time and resources. The book’s goal is to help pharmacotherapists mitigate the stigma, apprehension, or resignation that patients may have, and instead build and maintain a trusting relationship that is crucial for successful therapeutic outcomes.

Published by the American Psychiatric Association Publishing in January 2022, “Thinking About Prescribing” is a valuable resource for anyone involved in child and adolescent psychiatric practice, providing practical insights and strategies to optimize pharmacotherapy and improve patient outcomes.

Language: English

ISBN: 9781615373888, 9781615373895