Understanding Psychopharmacology - DVD only *NO CE - 6 hours

This seminar will review the basic function of neurons and drug actions, followed by an explanation of neurotransmitters and their function in the brain. General prescribing strategies will be presented, as well as common psychotropic medication side-effects and medical/behavioral management of these effects. Major psychological disorders will be presented along with the specific class of psychotropic medication indicate for a diagnostic category. These categories include: psychotic/schizophrenic (neuroleptics), anxiety disorders (rescue anxiolytics), depression (antidepressants), bipolar disorders (mood stabilizers, anti-seizure medications, and second generation anti-psychotics), Alzheimer’s disease (NMDA antagonists & AChE inhibitors), attention deficit disorder & hypersomnolence (stimulants), insomnia (hypnotics), addiction, and special populations (children & the elderly). In addition to psychotropic medication treatment of mental disorders, the necessity for psychotherapy will be emphasized for each mental health disorder in terms of increased treatment efficacy, long-term outcome, and maintenance of treatment gains. The most current empirical evidence which supports the seminar material will be incorporated into CE program to assure participants become cognizant of the treatment-of-choice for specific psychological disorders
$69.00

Part 1

  • Neuron/Drug Function
    • Agonists, Antagonists and Down-Stream Signal Transduction Cascades
  • Neurotransmitters Receptors & Transporters
    • Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate, Sigma, Histamine, Alpha Adrenergic, Melatonin; Opioids
  • General Prescribing Strategies & Side-Effects
    • Side-Effects & Side-Effects Management: Serotonin; Malignant Serotonin Syndrome
    • SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome; Anti-Cholinergic Side Effects; Histamine-1; Alpha-1; EPS; Tardive Dyskinesia; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
    • Dental, Dietary, & Physical Side-Effects
  • Psychotic Disorders: Schizophrenia & Schizoaffective Disorder
    • First & Secondary Neuroleptics; Psychological Treatment
    • Anxiety Disorders: Pharmacologic & Psychological Treatment
      • Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Pain Disorder; OCD; & PTSD
      • Benzodiazepines

Part 2

  • Depression & Bipolar Disorders:
    • Pharmacologic Treatment: SSRI’s, SNRI’s, Atypical Neuroleptics; Mood Stabilizers
    • Psychological Treatment: CBT, Mindfulness, Metacognitive Therapy
  • Alzheimer’s disease: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, & Pathophysiology
    • Pharmacologic & Psychological Treatment
  • Attention Deficit Disorders: Pathophysiology; Stimulants; & Psychological Treatment
  • Sleep Dysfunction: Insomnia & Hypersomnolence Disorders (Stimulants)
    • Pathophysiology; Antidepressants; Hypnotics; Sleep Hygiene
  • Addiction: Pathophysiology, Pharmacologic & Psychological Treatment
    • Eating – Obesity; Smoking – Nicotine; Alcohol; Opioids
  • Special Populations: Children & Elderly

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the delayed antidepressants’ therapeutic/genome mechanisms and factors that may help to improve patient medication compliance during this period of time.
  2. Discuss how to integrate psychotherapies with recent psychopharmacologic agents to improve treatment outcomes.
  3. Based on the current literature, list the most efficacious treatment modalities for a particular psychological disorder.
  4. List the neurotransmitters that may cause psychotropic medication side effects and recent strategies to mitigate these effects and enhance treatment.
  5. Describe the brain’s biochemical actions and neuroanatomy which are associated with psychological disorders, according to the most recent literature.
  6. Explain when to seek psychotropic medication consultation, based on the most recent empirical research.
  7. Describe, based on the material presented for this course, the implications for dentistry, mental health, pharmacy, nursing, and other health professions.
  8. Discuss how the recent empirical research in this course can be translated to clinical practices to improve patient care and outcome.
Products specifications
Instructor D. Longo, Ph.D.