Psychiatrists' attitudes toward prescribing medication for patients treated by nonmedical psychotherapists.

Although many psychiatrists prescribe medications for patients whose primary therapist is a nonmedical professional, few guidelines exist for this practice. Two-thirds of a sample of Connecticut psychiatrists surveyed by mail provided medication backup services, but only one-third considered the practice generally ethical. Seventy-five percent of respondents who provided this service reported that the arrangement was initiated by the nonmedical therapist. Many of the respondents were concerned about the prescribing psychiatrist's legal responsibility for the therapist's activities, but responses suggested that few psychiatrists use a consistent method to evaluate the therapist's qualifications. The authors propose areas that need further study before professional guidelines can be developed.