Bridging the Gap: Psychiatric Medication Education for Therapy Providers

Foster children have increased needs related to abuse or neglect they received and the removal from their home. This trauma often leads to disruption in mood and behavior, therefore requiring psychiatric medication. These children frequently move, and their care is disjointed, causing gaps in care, the potential for overmedication, and increased side effects. Those in foster care are four times more likely to be prescribed psychiatric medication compared to their peers (AHCCCS, 2016; Bertram & Mckarny, 2022). Those providing psychiatric counseling, including social workers, psychologists, and counselors, do not have psychiatric medication education despite being involved in their psychiatric care and having a more negative opinion about medications. To address this discrepancy, a presentation was created about psychiatric medications and presented to therapists at a non-profit outpatient organization. This project aimed to assess if educating those providing therapy would change their beliefs about medications. After obtaining informed consent, the Belief About Medine Questionnaire (BMQ) was administered pre- and post-in-person education to the six participants. Psychiatric medication discussed was specific to those in foster children, including antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test results indicated a trend and were not definitive, p = .059, noting the importance of future studies. By increasing medication education, those providing therapy will have a greater understanding, providing patient benefit. The hope is that the fractured care for those in foster care will be more connected.