LIMITED PRESCRIPTION PRIVILEGES FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS - A 1-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Hospital-affiliated psychologists who had previously responded to a questionnaire on prescription privileges and other professional issues of psychologists were resurveyed on the prescription privilege issue. Although there are generalizability problems with this limited sample, results suggest that the group of respondents continues to be divided on the prescription privilege issue. However, approximately 35% of the respondents have changed their position over a 1-year period. The most pivotal issue related to the acquisition of prescriptive authority for this sample appears to be whether or not gaining this privilege will damage psychology's credibility and distinctiveness from psychiatry. Additionally, respondents reported views regarding implications for the training of professional psychologists.