미국과 일본의 정신과전문약사제도 운영 현황과 시사점

Review on the Psychiatric Pharmacist System in the US and Japan

BACKGROUND This study aims to explore the role of pharmacists as mental health care provider by comparing the psychiatric pharmacy specialist systems in the United States and Japan. METHODS We conducted a literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. The search strategy employed the keywords “pharmacists” AND “mental health,” as well as “psychiatric pharmacy” OR “psychiatric pharmacists.” Additional information was collected from the official websites of the Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists (JSHP), Japanese Society of Psychiatric Pharmacy, and the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP). RESULTS In the United States, the Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) system has been implemented, and BCPPs provide comprehensive medication management, and specialized monitoring for high-risk psychotropic therapies. In Japan, Board Certified Pharmacist in Psychiatric Pharmacy (PPP) have been assigned to hospitals since around 2008 to provide medication counseling and collaborate with psychiatric care teams. And the following two certification systems are also in operation: the Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPP) and the Japanese Society of Psychiatric Pharmacy–Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (JS-PP). CONCLUSION Although this study examined the necessity of pharmacists’ roles as providers of mental health services through psychiatric medication management in Korea, further empirical research is required to evaluate the institutional acceptability and practical feasibility.