Mental health prescribing

This roundup will focus on some of the most recent literature published on mental health prescribing. It will report on four articles: one systematic review, one mixed methods study, one quantitative study and one qualitative study. The majority of research reported in these four articles were conducted in the UK.

Australian researchers carried out a systematic qualitative synthesis of 12 samples (Cleary et al, 2017). Using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) for qualitative studies, all were deemed to have met criteria for quality research. All 12 studies were conducted in the UK, which reflects the level of engagement with mental health nurse prescribing compared to other countries. Three main themes emerged from the data abstraction and synthesis: patient-centred care, professional role and professional support. Participants perceived that the implementation of nurse prescribing resulted in a higher quality service, with improved patient–prescriber rapport, continuity of care and greater support with medicines information from the prescriber as key features. Professionally, participants described how their role had become more autonomous and one that had earned the respect of the medical profession, as they were now perceived as a professional peer rather that the more traditional role of a nurse. With role development participants recognised a need for support, supervision and education to maintain patient safety and, although data suggested that sometimes this was addressed, on occasion it was inconsistent and sporadic. The review concluded that although the role of a prescriber was deemed valuable by service users and other key stakeholders, education and maintaining competence is vital for role safety. It also highlighted the absence of research on the effect of nurse prescribing in mental health services on clinical and financial outcomes.