The psychologist's role in the collaborative process of psychopharmacology

This is a discussion of a collaborative approach between psychologists, physicians, patients, and others in the administration of psychotropic medication. It is based on a systems point of view. In that perspective, not only are the people indicated above a system, but also the patient is considered from a holistic‐systems point of view. It requires that the psychologist not only be a member of the system, and a well‐versed in medication member at that; (s)he must also be an observer of the system, be able to take a meta perspective, in order to be able to exercise some unique functions—functions for which psychologists are well‐trained. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 58: 617–621, 2002.