Psychiatric Pharmacist Job Description

by Fred Decker

Pharmacists are well known as white-coated retailers of prescription and non-prescription medicines, health care products, vitamins and a wide range of other health-related merchandise. However, some pharmacists take an active role in research or direct treatment of patients with physical or mental illnesses. For example, psychiatric pharmacists have specialized training in the drugs used to treat mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and depression. Working with medical researchers or physicians, psychiatrists and other caregivers, they help improve outcomes and minimize side effects for psychiatric patients.

Clinical Roles

Psychiatric pharmacists work in conjunction with psychiatrists and other physicians to coordinate care for patients with mental illnesses or a combination of physical and mental disorders. Patients often take a battery of drugs, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics and antispasmodics, in a normal day. Psychiatric pharmacists understand the interactions of these and other medications. They can guide the physician in choosing products that won't cause potentially hazardous interactions. They're also better-trained in recognizing those adverse reactions when they occur, improving patient care. Pharmacists are also skilled in titration, the calculation of optimal dosages for a particular medication.

Research Roles

Psychiatric pharmacists also play a role in the design and testing of new therapeutic drugs, working for pharmaceutical companies or independent research laboratories. Psychiatric pharmacists have the necessary training and experience to suggest potential contra-indications or conflicts with new drugs, based on similar drugs of the same class or general type. When the new product moves to clinical testing, the pharmacist can play a crucial role in detecting and adjusting for potential side effects or adverse interactions with other medications. The pharmacist's insights are also useful in helping the research team determine the medication's overall efficacy compared to existing products.

Educational Roles

Like other pharmacists, psychiatric pharmacists spend much of their time educating others. In some cases, they must find creative ways to explain the use of their medications to mentally-ill patients. Often families and caregivers must also be coached in how the medications work, what effects can be expected, and how to know if the patient isn't taking the necessary drugs. Psychiatric pharmacists educate their peers and other practitioners through published papers and articles in industry magazines, and many serve as faculty at universities and other institutions. They might also educate the public through mental-health seminars, newspaper articles, websites and similar forms of outreach.

Training and Certification

Psychiatric pharmacists begin their careers the same way as other pharmacists, completing three to four years of undergraduate studies and then a four-year doctorate in pharmacy, or Pharm.D.. However, most psychiatric pharmacists then go on to complete at least two additional years in specialized psychiatric residencies or fellowships. Some earn graduate degrees in the subject, with a Ph.D. being especially valuable in research or academia. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties will also consider candidates who have practiced psychiatric pharmacy for at least four years, in lieu of residency. Qualified candidates must pass a rigorous examination to be board-certified, and must maintain the certification through continuing education.

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