Full Course Description

Psychopharmacology: Essential Information for Mental Health Professionals

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Discuss the proper role of mental health professionals who treat clients receiving both psychotherapeutic medications and psychotherapy.
  2. Describe specific ethical issues and resolutions related to communicating with clients and prescribing professionals about psychotropic medications.
  3. Explain the neurotransmitter systems and neuroanatomy underlying the biological basis for mental disorders and pharmacotherapy.
  4. Identify the major classes of drugs used to treat mental disorders and which mental disorders are appropriately treated with each class of drugs.
  5. Describe adverse effects and drug reactions of the commonly prescribed psychotropic medications and when to alert the prescriber about them.
  6. 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 RISKS

Target 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

  1. Examine the pharmacology behind the substances of abuse seen presently in practice.
  2. Analyze how dementia and delirium will present differently.
  3. Evaluate de-escalation techniques for a variety of violent patient behaviors.
  4. Catalogue the terminology used to refer to street drugs today.
  5. Assess and screen effectively for substance use disorders.
  6. Devise strategies to ensure your safety, while caring for an aggressive patient.
  7. Measure predictors of suicide, when evaluating a patient’s risk.
  8. 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

  1. Integrate psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of trauma and dissociation.
  2. Determine the positive and potentially negative effects of psychoactive medication interventions related to trauma treatment.
  3. Prepare clients effectively for the implementation of psychopharmacological adjuncts to psychotherapy.
  4. Analyze the neurobiological effects of trauma to the dysregulation of neurotransmitters and the use of mitigating medications.
  5. 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

  1. Analyze vulnerable populations at greater risk of Covid-19.
  2. Assess for medical disorders in people with mental illness that can cause complications with Covid-19.
  3. Distinguish the consequences of Covid-19 for increased incidence of suicide, domestic violence and child abuse.
  4. Plan how current Covid-19 treatments can have an effect on psychotropic medications.
  5. 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