Psychiatric pharmacy  Psychiatric pharmacy, also known as mental health pharmacy, is the area of clinical pharmacy specializing in the treatment of people with psychiatric illnesses through the use of psychotropic medications. It is a branch of neuropsychiatric pharmacy, which includes neurologic pharmacy. Areas where psychiatric pharmacists are found most abundantly are in chemical dependency, developmental disabilities, long-term care facilities, adherence clinics, mental health clinics, and within the prison system. However, psychiatry and neurology are not the only areas where psychiatric pharmacists require comprehensive knowledge. They must also be proficient in clinical problem solving, interprofessionalism, and communication with understanding and empathy for the patient population they serve, as they are a sensitive group. Psychiatric pharmacy was introduced in the late 1960's. The first time a psychiatric pharmacist was able to practice in a psychiatric unit was in 1971, as assigned by the US Public Health Service. This became the setting for the first published case where the role of a psychiatric pharmacist was elaborated upon. Psychiatric pharmacists were working not only in psychiatric inpatient and outpatient settings, but in methadone and disulfiram clinics, along with centers for the mentally challenged, as well. During this time, the University of Tennessee created contracts which allowed for pharmacy dispensing and clinical services for local psychiatric facilities. This treatment paradigm involved some of the collaborative drug therapy management and medication therapy management (MTM) systems in which psychiatric pharmacists employ today. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) is a professional organization that represents psychiatric pharmacists within the United States. CPNP credits two key pharmacists with developing clinical psychiatric pharmacy as a specialty: Dr. Glen Stimmel, PharmD, BCPP and Dr. R. Lee Evans, PharmD, FASHP, BCPP. Dr. Stimmel would later become a founding member of CPNP, as well as serve as its president. Matthew Fuller PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, CPNP Foundation President 2006-2007, has recognized Dr. Stimmel as the “Father of Psychiatric Pharmacy." The specialty of psychiatric pharmacy was recognized by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) in 1992. Psychiatric pharmacy is practiced by psychiatric (also called "neuropsychiatric") pharmacists. Psychiatric pharmacists tend to have a board certification in the specialty of psychiatric pharmacy, granting the title of Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), and attach the post-nominals after their professional degrees.