From the Editor

Cynthia McLoughlin, Ph.D.

From the Editor

Cynthia McLoughlin, Ph.D. 

In this issue, we have a great deal of news about the ever-increasing government regulation of psychology.  First, we have the President’s column, which discusses the issue of the expansion of psychology licensure rules to include the right to prescribe psychotropic drugs.  As most of you probably are aware, New Mexico recently granted psychologists prescription privileges, which has stepped up the pressure from some members of our profession for similar changes in other states.   Dr. Saxe’s column raises many questions about the impact of such laws on those of us who would not choose to prescribe and on the profession as a whole.

There are two items addressing the issue of Mandatory Continuing Education.  First, a letter from Marvin Hyman updating MSPP members on the activities of the Ad Hoc Committee on MCE.   Second, Patrick B. Kavanaugh has written an essay for the Academy space in this issue addressing  MCE from the point of view of ethics and professional responsibility.

Linda J. Young reviews Peter S. Armstrong’s Opening Gambits—a book on the first session in psychoanalytic practice.  One might think that this offering would offer a respite from thoughts about the intrusions of government on practice, but even here regulations are a prominent factor.   

Barry Dauphin reports on the doings of Section IV, Division 39, and the APA from his perspective as MSPP’s representative to the Section IV Senate.

Lastly, this issue includes two articles touching on government’s impact on  issues of privacy and confidentiality:  Ivan J. Miller, one of the founders of the Boulder Psychotherapists’ Guild, has written an article about a petition drive in Colorado that turned around a proposal that many psychologists felt would violate their professional ethics regarding confidentiality.  And we have received an alarming report from the National Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers explaining how HIPAA as it is currently configured would do away with confidentiality in medical and psychological treatment.  

I am interested in hearing from members about their reactions to the contents of this issue—or about any other aspect of professional life.  If you have something you’d like to say, please don’t hesitate to contact me about putting it into the News, in the form of an article, a letter to the Editor, or something else yet to be determined.