title: A survey of community pharmacists and final-year student pharmacists and their perception of psychotherapeutic agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization has estimated that as many as 450 million people worldwide have mental disorders. More than 44 million people in the United States have a mental disorder annually, estimating the annual direct costs of mental illness to exceed US$69 billion. Psychotherapeutic agents are used to treat mental illnesses and improve quality of life. The purpose of the study is to assess the knowledge and knowledge perception of community pharmacists and final-year student pharmacists regarding psychotherapeutic agents dispensed to their community of patients with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was distributed to pharmacists and final-year student pharmacists regarding psychotherapeutic agents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 100 pharmacists and 40 final-year student pharmacists completed the survey. Upon analysis of surveys returned by pharmacists, knowledge deficiency was assessed regarding anxiolytics and mood stabilizers. The analysis of student participant surveys demonstrated knowledge deficiency regarding antidepressants and anxiolytics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Final-year student pharmacists would benefit from the curricular incorporation of courses and advanced pharmacy practice experiences in Psychiatry. Community pharmacists caring for customers with psychiatric disorders should take advantage of continuing education series that highlight updates and new developments regarding psychotherapeutic agents in order to improve clinical outcomes of patients.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA Brian.McKee3@va.gov.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.affiliation: Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Crestview, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Margareth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larose-Pierre
authors.affiliation: Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Davie Instructional Site, Davie, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Leonard R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rappa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010595:Pharmacists; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: community pharmacist; knowledge; perception; psychotherapeutic agents; student pharmacist