Full Course Description
Psychopharmacology: Essential Information for Mental Health Professionals
Program Information
Objectives
- Discuss the proper role of mental health professionals who treat clients receiving both psychotherapeutic medications and psychotherapy.
- Describe specific ethical issues and resolutions related to communicating with clients and prescribing professionals about psychotropic medications.
- Explain the neurotransmitter systems and neuroanatomy underlying the biological basis for mental disorders and pharmacotherapy.
- Identify the major classes of drugs used to treat mental disorders and which mental disorders are appropriately treated with each class of drugs.
- Describe adverse effects and drug reactions of the commonly prescribed psychotropic medications and when to alert the prescriber about them.
- Analyze the role that half-life plays in the efficacy of insomnia medications prescribed for clients and how it may affect behavioral interventions.
Outline
MEDS 101
- Case study
- Reasons to be knowledgeable about psychiatric medications
- Lessons from other disciplines
- Pharmacy
- Nursing
- Ethics guidelines
- The common questions clients have about their medications
- Handling differences of opinion between yourself and a prescribing professional
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Organization of the nervous system
- Structure of the neuron
- Communication between neurons
- How medicines interact with the nervous system
DEPRESSION MEDICATIONS
- Neurobiology
- SSRIs and SNRIs
- Mechanism of action
- Benefits and adverse reactions
- Medications in these categories
- Case Study
ANXIETY DISORDER MEDICATIONS
- DSM-5® anxiety categories
- Deconstructionist approach taken by prescribers
- Neurobiology
- SRRIs and Benzodiazepines
- Mechanism of action
- Benefits and adverse reactions
- Medications in these categories
- Case study
BIPOLAR MEDICATIONS
- Monotherapy
- Lithium, anticonvulsants, and 2nd generation
- Mechanism of action
- Benefits and adverse reactions
- Medications in these categories
- Case study
ADHD MEDICATIONS
- Neurobiology
- Methylphenidate and amphetamine
- Mechanism of action
- Delivery systems
- Benefits and adverse reactions
- Medications in these categories
- Case study
ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS
- Psychosis symptoms
- Neurobiology
- 1st and 2nd generation
- Antipsychotics
- Mechanism of action
- Benefits and adverse reactions
- Medications in these categories
- Case study
INSOMNIA MEDICATIONS
- Causes and treatments for insomnia
- Medications for insomnia
- Half-life
- Benefits and adverse reactions
- Case study
LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH & POTENTIAL RISKSTarget Audience
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Psychotherapists
- Case Managers
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Nurses
- Nurse Practitioners
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Addiction Counselors
- Pharmacists
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Other Mental Health & Healthcare Professionals
Copyright :
02/28/2020
Behavioral Emergencies: Accurately Assess & Manage Patients in Crisis
Program Information
Objectives
- Examine the pharmacology behind the substances of abuse seen presently in practice.
- Analyze how dementia and delirium will present differently.
- Evaluate de-escalation techniques for a variety of violent patient behaviors.
- Catalogue the terminology used to refer to street drugs today.
- Assess and screen effectively for substance use disorders.
- Devise strategies to ensure your safety, while caring for an aggressive patient.
- Measure predictors of suicide, when evaluating a patient’s risk.
- Plan for a patient who threatens to harm himself or another.
Outline
The Psychosocial Assessment
- Differential diagnosis
- Assess level of consciousness
- Quick identification of physical problems that can lead to psychiatric symptoms
- Immediate safety concerns/danger to self
- Panic/anxiety/agitation
- Techniques to bring calm
Psychotic Emergencies
- Schizophrenia
- Psychosis related to medical conditions – delirium, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disorders, pulmonary disorders
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
ETOH
- Intoxication
- Withdrawal – delirium tremens
- Acute stage – detoxification, medical interventions
- Stabilization stage
Drug Related Emergencies
- Cocaine
- Amphetamine
- PCP
- Hallucinogens
- LSD
- Opioids
- Acute management and stabilization
Violent and Aggressive Behaviors
- Self-destructive behaviors
- Self-mutilating behaviors
- Suicidal risk
- Predictors of suicide
- Suspecting a drug overdose
- Strategies for your own safety
- De-escalation techniques
Mood Disorder Emergencies
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorders – manic episodes
Trauma Emergencies
- Domestic violence survivor
- Rape survivor
- Acute stress reaction
Families in Crisis
- Children/adolescent needs
- Geriatric emergencies
- Crisis intervention – for individuals, couples, an entire family
Target Audience
- Nurses
- Nurse Practitioners
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Physician Assistants
- Case Managers
- Social Workers
- Mental Health Professionals
- Counselors
- Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
Copyright :
10/26/2020
A Therapist’s Guide to the Psychopharmacology of Trauma and Dissociation
Program Information
Objectives
- Integrate psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of trauma and dissociation.
- Determine the positive and potentially negative effects of psychoactive medication interventions related to trauma treatment.
- Prepare clients effectively for the implementation of psychopharmacological adjuncts to psychotherapy.
- Analyze the neurobiological effects of trauma to the dysregulation of neurotransmitters and the use of mitigating medications.
- Assess therapeutic indications for appropriate medication referrals.
Outline
- Effectively approaching traumatized clients with medication supports
- Classification of the different types of trauma
- Normative responses
- Iatrogenic risks of rapid psychopharmacological treatment
- Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Working with “parts of self” and medication interventions
- Primary types of parts
- Therapists’ role in medications – facilitating compliance
- Indications for medication referrals
- Integrating IFS with medication management
- Video case example – securing parts agreement and clarifying expectations
- Neuroscience and the neurobiology of PTSD
- Neural networks and neural integration
- Fear response circuitry – normal and disrupted function
- Neurotransmitters and medications
- Specific effects of most commonly used medication interventions
- Treating Acute Trauma
- Current psychopharmacological research and new directions
- Negative effects of benzodiazepine use
- Treating PTSD
- Indicated medications and common side effects
- Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy
- Enhancing self-compassion and reducing defenses
- Limitations of current research
- Hormones and PTSD
- Polyvagal theory and Dissociation
- Differentiating ventral and dorsal parasympathetic function
- Treating Dissociation – applications of atypical antipsychotics
- Medications new to the market
- Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder and Trauma - Co-morbidities and Trauma
- Use of PRN medications and scheduling
- Discriminating between biological and emotional symptoms
- Sleep disturbances
- Psychotropics used – effects and side effects
- Attention Deficit Disorder – overlap and medication interaction with PTSD
- Substance abuse and indicated medications
- Depression and co-morbid PTSD
- Star-D study results
- Polypharmacy for PTSD symptomology
- OCD
- Alternative treatments for Trauma
Target Audience
- Addiction Counselors
- Case Managers
- Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Other Mental Health Professionals
Copyright :
09/11/2019
Risks & Consequences of Covid-19 on Mental Health: A Psychopharmacology Update
Program Information
Objectives
- Analyze vulnerable populations at greater risk of Covid-19.
- Assess for medical disorders in people with mental illness that can cause complications with Covid-19.
- Distinguish the consequences of Covid-19 for increased incidence of suicide, domestic violence and child abuse.
- Plan how current Covid-19 treatments can have an effect on psychotropic medications.
- Evaluate the need for medication adjustments considering the organ/system effected by Covid-19.
Outline
Vulnerable Populations
- Barriers in access to care
- Increased risks during this pandemic
Increasing Risk through Social Isolation and Unemployment
- Domestic violence
- Suicide
- Child abuse
- Food insecurity
- Substance abuse and the opiate epidemic
- Worsening physical health
Psychopharmacology: Consequences of Covid-19
- Organ and systems impacted
- Caution in dosing and selection of medications in Covid-19 patients with mental illness
- Increase of drug induced delirium in patients on respirators with Covid-19
- Medications used to treat Covid-19 - and possible interactions with psychotrophic medications
Global Connectedness
- What we can learn from other nations and cultures in this present pandemic
- How we can all come out as better people from this crisis
Target Audience
- Nurses
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Psychotherapists
- Case Managers
- Pharmacists
- Psychiatrists
Copyright :
11/24/2020