Developing the role of pharmacists as members of community mental health teams: perspectives of pharmacists and mental health professionals.
BACKGROUND
People living with bipolar mood disorder and psychotic illnesses in Australia primarily access public-sector mental health care through community mental health teams (CMHTs). Adverse drug events are common among clients of CMHTs taking psychotropic medications.


OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to investigate and describe a potential role for pharmacists as members of CMHTs.


METHODS
Five study pharmacists were employed 1 day per week to work with 5 mental health teams over a 24-week period. The pharmacists conducted both client and team specific activities designed to optimize the use of medications. The pharmacists recorded their professional activities in diaries. Audiotaped focus groups were conducted with the pharmacists (n=1) and mental health team staff (n=3) at the conclusion of the study. Pharmacists' diaries and the transcripts of focus groups were thematically content analyzed.


RESULTS
Study pharmacists were perceived as valuable sources of unbiased and evidence-based drug information for both mental health team staff and their clients and caregivers. Mental health team staff particularly appreciated the provision of information about nonpsychotropic medications. Pharmacists' participation in clinical team meetings was used as an opportunity to present medication review findings and recommendations. Liaising between medication prescribers and dispensers working in primary and secondary care settings was deemed an important additional role; however, participating only 1 day per week was considered to delay rapport building and the establishment of collaborative working relationships with mental health team staff.


CONCLUSIONS
Including pharmacists as members of CMHTs addressed an unmet need for pharmaceutical services among clients and staff of CMHTs. Pharmacists' contributions were welcomed by mental health team staff. The study raised the issue of whether pharmacists should be considered as essential and legitimate members of interdisciplinary CMHTs.
Bell
J Simon
JS
Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. simon.bell@helsinki.fi
Rosen
Alan
A
Aslani
Parisa
P
Whitehead
Paula
P
Chen
Timothy F
TF
D001315:Australia; D019090:Case Management; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000592:standards; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008499:Medical Records; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs