Effects of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Depression on Cardiopulmonary and Abdominal Organ Structure.

It is estimated that 30% to 40% of youth in foster care are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, most commonly depressive, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity, disruptive behavioral, and/or trauma and stressor related disorders. Rates of psychotropic prescribing are 2 to 6.5 times higher in foster care youth compared with the general US youth population., Whereas this difference may be partially explained by high rates of psychiatric disorders, concerns regarding inappropriate psychotropic prescribing exist. These concerns include polypharmacy, inconsistent monitoring, and gaps in transitions of care, amongst others., Board-certified psychiatric pharmacists (BCPPs) are educators and advocates for the evidence-based use of psychotropics through comprehensive medication management, medication therapy management, and psychotropic stewardship programs (PSPs). BCPPs have expertise in medication treatment of psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, and work with a variety of patient populations. Although many BCPPs work with youth in foster care, literature describing their effect is lacking.,,,, Whereas other pharmacists play important roles treating patients living with psychiatric disorders, BCPP is the gold standard and allows administrators to easily confirm appropriate training and expertise. The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, the community of practice for BCPPs, initiated this exploration of the role of BCPPs in foster care in the United States. A general literature search was performed to identify relevant studies pertaining to this topic. This manuscript aims to (1) identify medication management challenges among youth in foster care, (2) describe the current role of BCPPs in foster care, and (3) propose strategies for integration of BCPPs to support evidence-based practices. Whereas this manuscript focuses on psychotropic medication management, the authors acknowledge the critical role of trauma-informed mental health evaluations and psychotherapy, routine physical health evaluations, and other nonpharmacologic interventions.