ABSTRACT
Split treatment is a term for therapeutic intervention involving a therapist providing psychotherapy and a psychiatrist prescribing medication. The type of treatment has been increasingly frequent as safer medications and use of medication for a broader range of syndromes have led to more requests by therapists for psychopharmacologic evaluation and intervention. Gender-related transferences will be likely to arise in the setting of psychopharmacological consultation. Clinicians should be alert to how the transference fantasies affect the split treatment. Therapists who are not licensed to prescribe medication require a physician for psychopharmacological intervention. Gould and Busch described transference and countertransference issues that typically develop in treatment triangles. Countertransference can affect the reactions to a consultation for medication evaluation. Due to the increasing presence of women in the mental health field, the combination of a female psychotherapist with a male psychopharmacologist occurs frequently. Gender-related transferences will be likely to arise in the setting of psychopharmacological consultation.
