The Latest CME: Advances in Psychopharmacology
Harvard Psychopharmacology: A Masters Class is an advanced course designed for experienced clinicians. It focuses on complex, real-world psychiatric cases and emphasizes evidence-based strategies for difficult-to-treat patients. Participants are expected to have a solid foundation in neurobiology, psychopharmacology, and the genetic underpinnings of psychiatric illness.
The course offers in-depth updates on brain function, neurotransmission, gene-environment interactions, and the neurobiology of major disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. Topics include first-episode psychosis, treatment-resistant depression, modern use of antidepressants, and novel interventions like ketamine, ECT, and TMS.
Special sessions cover adult ADHD, stimulant use, comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions, OCD, borderline personality disorder, women’s mental health (PMS, pregnancy, postpartum), sleep disorders, and substance use. Child, adolescent, and geriatric psychopharmacology are also addressed.
Throughout, the importance of the therapeutic alliance, careful polypharmacy, and risk-benefit analysis in prescribing is emphasized. The course encourages active engagement and clinical application of the latest research and treatment innovations.
* Date of Original Release: May 15, 2021
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Evaluate the effects of neurotransmitters and genes on psychotropic drug treatment
- Study the Interface between neurology and psychiatry
- Describe the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia with particular reference to the prodromal period and first episode
- Outline the emerging theories and treatments of bipolar disorder, depression, treatment resistant depression, bipolar depression, stress and anxiety disorder
- Discuss the role of psychotropic medications in women’s mental health with an emphasis on PMS, pregnancy, nursing, and the postpartum period
- Review the appropriate use of medications in the treatment of sleep disorders
- Access psychopharmacologic treatment of eating disorders
- Summarize the interface between medicine and psychiatric disorders with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease and cancer
- Review the appropriate use of stimulants in the treatment of attention and ADHD disorders as well as their use as an adjunct to antidepressant treatment
- Identify psychopharmacologic treatment for the borderline personality disorder
- Explain the role of psychopharmacology in the treatment of substance use disorders with particular emphasis on alcohol, opiates, and cannabis
- Recognize when to utilize ECT and TMS for the treatment of depression
- Discuss standard psychopharmacologic treatments that have now been proven to be ineffective
- Give examples of the latest advances and problems associated with treatment approaches in the child, adolescent and geriatric populations
HARVARD PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: A MASTERS CLASS 2021
