A WORD ABOUT THE ASCP CERTIFICATION EXAM IN CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) administered the first certification exam in clinical psychopharmacology in October 1998. We are pleased to offer the examination's third edition at the annual American Psychiatric Association meetings in Chicago on May 13.

The ASCP was prompted to offer this exam for two reasons: First, too much bad psychopharmacology is being practiced, much of it by non-psychiatrists, and secondly, managed care companies, in their zeal to save money and because there's no way of separating the qualified providers from the unqualified, often choose M.D.s who are not up to the task of treating the mentally ill with an appropriate medication regimen.

Some have questioned the ASCP's qualifications to be the arbiter of who is and who is not eligible to call themselves qualified clinical psychopharmacologists. We believe that even a cursory look at the list of ASCP Trustees will put that issue to rest. In addition, our survey of those who ...