12/22/2025
Prescribing psychologists are mental health specialists who prescribe only within the scope of psychiatric medications. Similar to how other healthcare professionals prescribe within their areas of expertise and competency.
Research consistently shows that states allowing psychologist prescribing experience:
• Reductions in mental-health–related deaths, including suicides
• Improved quality of life and cost-effective care
• Strong prescribing knowledge compared to non-specialist medical providers
• Fewer adverse medication events and more thoughtful medication use
Prescribing psychologists often treat high-need, high-risk patients, spending the time required to ensure safe, effective, and well-understood treatment plans.
Expanding prescriptive authority is about quality, safety, and access that is grounded in evidence, not assumptions.
Selected Evidence:
Hughes, P. M., McGrath, R. E., & Thomas, K. C. (2022).
Choudhury, S., & Plemmons, G. (2023).
Hughes, P. M., et al. (2023).
Cooper, R. (2022).
Hughes, P. M., et al. (in press).
