This article provides an executive summary of the American Psychological Association's revised Practice Guidelines Regarding Psychologists' Involvement in Pharmacological Issues. The revision was requested by the American Psychological Association Society for Prescribing Psychology (Division 55) and was approved by the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives in August 2025. The task force updated and expanded the guidelines' empirical, theoretical, and practical bases, which reflect the substantial growth in psychologists' roles in pharmacotherapy, including expanded prescriptive authority and collaboration with medical providers. The revision integrates new research, ethical standards, and practical considerations to support safe, evidence-based, and patient-centered pharmacological practice. In this executive summary, we include key points from each of the 14 guidelines. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a life-altering diagnosis that requires sustained self-care and adherence to complex treatment regimens, yet patients may struggle with the psychological burden of managing a progressive, life-altering illness. Although positive psychological approaches are gaining attention in cardiovascular care, growth-oriented frameworks remain underexplored. Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) theory, which describes positive psychological change emerging through engagement with highly challenging life circumstances, may offer a novel conceptual lens for understanding HF self-care and guiding intervention development.MethodsThis paper introduces PTG theory as a novel theoretical lens for understanding psychological adaptation and adherence in HF self-care. By extending PTG, a framework previously unused in HF, to the chronic demands of daily self-care, we propose new explanatory pathways linking growth-oriented processes to potential sustained adherence. To illustrate the framework’s applicability, we draw on two selected example cases from a small, early-stage positive psychology program development effort. These illustrative cases informed the development of a proposed PTG-informed conceptual model, CardioWell.ResultsThe illustrative cases contained examples of processes aligned with all five PTG domains: personal strength, spiritual and existential change, improved relationships, appreciation of life, and new possibilities. These examples suggest how engagement in growth-oriented psychological processes might support coping with the ongoing demands of HF self-care. By identifying psychologically meaningful targets and proposing conceptual pathways linking PTG-related processes to HF self-care, this work provides a strong theoretical foundation for the PTG-informed CardioWell model.ConclusionThis paper advances PTG theory as a novel theoretical lens for understanding psychological adaptation in HF self-care and for guiding the development of growth-oriented interventions. A PTG-informed conceptual model (CardioWell) is presented to illustrate how growth-oriented psychological processes could be targeted in future intervention development. These proposed pathways are exploratory and warrant formal evaluation in future research.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) offers an alternative understanding of trauma response, contrasting with traditional perspectives focused solely on symptom development and resilience. In the PTG model, individuals and groups report positive changes in life philosophy, self-understanding, and interpersonal relationships because of successfully navigating the struggles involved with experiencing adversity. This narrative review includes the evolution of PTG theory, highlighting the disruption of core beliefs, the role of rumination, and the reconstruction of a life narrative as central mechanisms of the PTG process. The authors describe the five empirically validated domains of PTG and outline the naturally occurring PTG process. Methods are discussed for facilitating PTG through "expert companions," who may be peers or professionals providing nonjudgmental, supportive relationships that encourage emotional regulation, constructive disclosure, and meaning making. The article explores how these methods can be applied to individuals, communities, and organizations, all of which may experience comparable domains of growth following collective adversity. The article concludes by highlighting how a focus on posttraumatic growth shifts perspectives from viewing trauma survivors as broken to recognizing their potential for transformation and underscores the role of both professional and community support in fostering PTG and healthier organizational climates.

OBJECTIVE:Since its original publication in 1996, the 21-item Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) has been widely used to assess the experience of personal growth following trauma. In 2017, the expanded 25-item version (PTGI-X) was introduced to better capture spiritual and existential change. In this study, we aimed to develop a short form version of the PTGI-X (PTGI-X-SF) that retains all five domains of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a brief, clinically useful format. METHOD:An international sample of 2,093 adults who had completed the PTGI-X in a prior study was analyzed. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factor structure of the proposed short form. RESULTS:The resulting PTGI-X-SF includes 10 items-two from each of the five original PTGI subscales. The 10 SF items subjected to confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable model fit, supporting the validity of the PTGI-X-SF as a brief measure of PTG, which we believe preserves the depth and breadth of the original scale. CONCLUSIONS:The PTGI-X-SF offers a concise, psychometrically grounded tool for assessing PTG across all original domains. It can be used in diverse settings and populations, complementing standard trauma assessments to provide a fuller picture of individuals' responses to adversity. We believe the instrument is a validated, efficient, and globally applicable short-form measure of PTG suitable for use in both research and clinical settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Studies indicate that 87% of U.S. veterans experience at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime, with approximately 34% of these being combat-related. There is a need for targeted interventions that engage veteran clients effectively, deliver prompt and long-lasting results, and acknowledge the existential challenges associated with military-related traumatic exposures. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) theory offers a fresh perspective on the aftermath of trauma, emphasizing the potential for psychological growth following such experiences. Boulder Crest Foundation's Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) program, based on key tenets of PTG theory, has demonstrated promise in promoting PTG and reducing symptomology (i.e., PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia) in veteran populations. The current study evaluates the outcomes of a further development (labeled 5.0) of the Warrior PATHH program on 343 U.S. veteran participants and quantifies the observed effects this training had on PTG-related outcomes and symptomology across four time points through determination of omnibus significance via ANOVA and evaluation of pre-post effect size and significance via paired samples t-tests. Results of analyses indicated significant medium-to-large effects across all outcomes at time 3 (d=.515-1.722) and maintenance at time 4 with minimal alteration to effect sizes (d=.554--1.57). These findings indicate that the Warrior PATHH 5.0 program is effective in promoting PTG and reducing PTSD and other symptoms over at least a 3-month period. Further research into interventions based on PTG may enhance the understanding of how to enhance outcomes beyond standard trauma therapies for trauma-exposed veterans.

Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth (VPTG) is a critical yet underexplored phenomenon among trauma-focused helping professionals. While secondary trauma (ST), compassion fatigue, and burnout are widely recognized negative aspects of working with trauma survivors, less is known about the potential benefits of this work and its contributions to well-being. This qualitative study explored peer-support specialists' perceptions of growth arising from indirect exposure to trauma and examined how these experiences relate to well-being. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 participants, independently coded transcripts, and developed themes through consensus. Findings suggest VPTG may follow a similar path to Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), with participants reporting challenges to core beliefs, emotional distress, and transformative cognitive-emotional shifts that facilitated growth across domains that appear to mirror the five PTG domains. Outcomes of working with trauma survivors extended beyond the PTG domains to include compassion satisfaction, hope, expanded coping skills, and improved mental health. Taken together, these findings illustrate the participants' subjective experiences of both challenge and transformation through their work with trauma survivors, offering preliminary insight into how indirect trauma exposure may contribute to VPTG and well-being.

Practical Psychopharmacology takes the novel approach of writing at three different levels—beginning, intermediate, and advanced—to give the practicing psychopharmacologist a tailored experience. Each chapter focuses on a specific DSM-5 disorder and outlines abbreviated treatment guidelines to help the reader understand where their knowledge base and clinical practice currently resides. At the first level, the book teaches novice prescribers practical diagnostic skills and provides a brief overview of pertinent genetic and neuroimaging findings to increase prescribing confidence. Next, it provides mid-level clinicians with intermediate techniques and guidelines for more difficult cases. The final level provides nuanced guidance for advanced practitioners or those who see the most treatment-resistant patients. This approach allows a clinician to access this book periodically throughout the care of an individual patient and to gradually progress through a series of more advanced psychopharmacological techniques for making accurate and efficient diagnoses. Readers can also visit the book's eResource page to download a bonus chapter on eating disorders as well as case studies and multiple-choice questions for each chapter.

IntroductionExposure to trauma among U.S. military veterans occurs at a high rate, often resulting in continued difficulty with emotional adjustment and a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study provides data from 184 U.S. military veterans who completed a manualized posttraumatic-growth oriented training program during an integrative seven-day retreat.MethodsData was collected at baseline, after program completion, and at 18-month follow-up.ResultsResults on primary outcomes indicated significant increases, with medium to large effect sizes, in growth related outcomes. Specifically, there was a significant increase in scores by 54% on the posttraumatic growth outcome measure (PTGI-X) from baseline (M = 50.2, SD = 31.1) to endpoint (M = 77.4, SD = 29.6), t(183) = −8.78, p < 0.001. Also, results indicate that immediately following training (Day 7), participants reported a significant decrease of 49% on the PCL-5 from baseline (M = 39.7, SD = 17.6) to endpoint (M = 20.1, SD = 13.2), t(183) = 11.75, p < 0.001. Depression subscale scores decreased by 60% from baseline (M = 8.0, SD = 5.2) to endpoint (M = 3.2, SD = 3.0), t(183) = 10.68, p < 0.001; Anxiety scores decreased by 28% from baseline (M = 5.8, SD = 4.3) to endpoint (M = 4.2, SD = 3.5), t(183) = 4.08, p < 0.001; and Stress scores decreased by 50% from baseline (M = 10.0, SD = 4.4) to endpoint (M = 5.0, SD = 3.3), t(183) = 12.21, p < 0.001. Eighteen-month follow-up data was available for 74 participants and indicated that all significant changes in growth-related outcomes were maintained. Further, all significant changes in symptomatology-related outcomes were also maintained at follow-up.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate both the immediate and the long-lasting impact of an integrative posttraumatic growth-oriented training program on psychological growth and PTSD symptom reduction among U.S. military veterans.

War zone exposure is associated with enduring negative mental health effects and poorer responses to treatment, in part because this type of trauma can entail crises of conscience or moral injury. Although a great deal of attention has been paid to posttraumatic stress disorder and fear-based physiological aspects of trauma and suffering, comparatively less attention has been given to the morally injurious dimension of trauma. Robust themes of moral injury were identified in interviews with 26 post-9/11 military veterans. Thematic analysis identified 12 themes that were subsumed under four categories reflecting changes, shifts, or ruptures in worldview, meaning making, identity, and relationships. Moral injury is a unique and challenging clinical construct with impacts on the individual as well as at every level of the social ecological system. Recommendations are offered for addressing moral injury in a military population; implications for community public health are noted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A ubiquitous research finding in regional and national studies is that at least 40% of persons with mental disorders cannot access mental health services, and pharmacotherapy in particular. The American Psychological Association's (APA) designated programs for the provision of education and training in clinical psychopharmacology can be of great help in alleviating this national need. We address key developments relevant to the foundation of a predoctoral model of clinical psychopharmacology education and training. To this end, an overview of the Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is presented. TCSPP is now enrolling its eleventh consecutive cohort of MSCP students, many of whom are doctoral students who are concurrently attending various APA accredited Health Service Psychology (HSP) programs. We provide two predoctoral routes for completing MSCP training: (a) a route allowing for the creation of concentrations in clinical psychopharmacology in Health Service Psychology (HSP) doctoral programs, providing up to half of MSCP coursework; and (b) a joint doctoral PsyD or PhD/MSCP program meeting APA accreditation and designation standards integrated into a 5-year curriculum to impart HSP graduates with the competencies to provide both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. We conclude with a discussion about the future direction of predoctoral clinical psychopharmacology education and training. Given its emphasis on neuroscience and interdisciplinary health care, such curricular models may help to address the nation's immediate mental health care needs, while serving to enhance the sustainability of HSP education and professional practice in the 21st Century. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

This article provides a summary of the concept of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and how it is applied to psychotherapeutic intervention. We briefly discuss the concept of PTG and empirical research that has identified 5 PTG outcomes and the processes that lead to these outcomes in the aftermath of trauma. We consider a PTG-based model of intervention that integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral, narrative, interpersonal, and existential therapies while emphasizing the importance of the therapy relationship in an approach called "expert companionship." Finally, we describe PTG-based interventions in individual psychotherapy and in other forms of intervention with trauma survivors and offer a case example.

Purpose of Review It is vitally important that providers treating post-traumatic stress disorder continue to stay abreast of research advances in the treatment of this disorder. This article updates the reader about advances in research in PTSD treatment in the past four years as well as the evolving recommendations of clinical practice guidelines. Recent Findings One of the most important developments is that trauma-focused therapy (TFT) has emerged as the first-line treatment for PTSD with pharmacologic options often being noted as second-line or adjunctive. Summary The quality and quantity of research into the treatment of PTSD continue to grow; however, the pace of research into treatment options lags behind our understanding of the development, course, and prognosis of the disorder. The development of new research-based evidence in the treatment of PTSD, both pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic, is needed and likely to necessitate frequent updates and re-evaluations of clinical practice guidelines.

Telepsychology is a relatively well-established method for delivering care to underresourced environments. Much research has been done demonstrating the acceptability and effectiveness of telepsychology. Also, it has been shown that evidence-based psychotherapies and pharmacological therapies can be delivered effectively through telepsychology; however, there is a lack of information on how to best adapt the research-supported protocols to be delivered via telepsychology. A recent survey of telepsychology experts demonstrated the need for guidance on how to adapt these practices for telepsychology with a specific focus on three domains: use of self-report questionnaires, treatment handouts, and in-session examples (Gros et al., 2013). The presented case series demonstrates feasible solutions to address these domains of treatment such as using screen-sharing technology, incorporating other technology-based resources such as smart-phone applications, and using web-based methods to securely administer outcome tracking measures. Further research and innovation on the topic is needed.