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Exploring the Essential Features of “Stephanie Bunch – Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice Clinicians: Proven Strategies for Prescription Success – PESI”
Speaker: Stephanie L. Shafer, RN, MSN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Format: Audio and Video
Media Type: Digital Seminar
Description
Psychiatry is one of the most challenging areas of medicine, secondary to the subjective nature of the specialty. As clinicians, we have no objective data to base our course of treatment on.
Psychopharmacology and psychotherapy are our best options in terms of treatments and therapy is only successful if the patient is committed to attending every session, completing their homework, and willing to make the necessary life changes to improve their mental health. Medication can be very helpful in terms of alleviating mental health symptoms; however, choosing the right medication and/or combination of meds is crucial to achieving successful outcomes. Secondary to the psychiatry shortage, providers in other specialties find themselves treating mental health patients, which can present additional challenges.
This recording will arm you with a valuable update on the different classes of psychiatric medications and facilitate a deeper level of understanding in terms of how these medications work on their respective neurotransmitters and how they work in conjunction with one another. It is uncommon for mental health patients to be on only one medication, as a combination of medications is often required to reach the desired level of improvement.
After this course, you will be able to identify effective medication regimens for patients based on their psychiatric history and presenting symptoms, ultimately contributing to quality of life improvements in patients with mental health conditions.
Speaker
Stephanie L. Shafer, RN, MSN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, works in a large private practice in Lansing, MI, providing clinical services to children, adolescents, and adults with psychiatric disorders, including ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-compulsive tendencies, Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, and Personality Disorders. She has achieved considerable success treating these conditions. This success has largely resulted from the development of a structured model of care that includes a significant focus on clinical and background histories, identifying psychosocial stressors, and evaluating prior medical and psychiatric diagnoses (and treatment regimens associated with these conditions). This approach and model of medical management is essential to the effective delivery of psychiatric medications to this population.
From a clinical perspective, Stephanie has worked in a myriad of settings, including emergency medicine, primary care, and psychiatry, within a large urban hospital, community-based practice, clinics, and in a private-practice setting. Her transition from primary care to psychiatry evolved as a means of providing effective treatment for a growing population of underserved patients with psychiatric disorders.
Stephanie’s commitment to her specialty is evident. She completed a post-graduate degree specializing in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate, and is a requested presenter, sharing her expertise with multidisciplinary healthcare audiences throughout the country.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Stephanie Shafer is the owner and founder of Neurobehavioral Health and Wellness. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Stephanie Shafer is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Objectives
- Distinguish ways to conceptualize psychiatric symptomatology outside the box.
- Evaluate common medical conditions that you may inadvertently diagnose as psychiatric in nature.
- Analyze the 4 main neurotransmitters and how their imbalance influences different psychiatric disorders.
- Measure efficacy of the newer class of serotonin modulators to the other widely-used antidepressant classes.
- Examine frequently asked questions regarding the impact of alcohol and marijuana for patients taking psychotropic medications.
- Determine strategic ways to customize treatment plans based on your patient’s individual needs.
Outline
- Antidepressants
The many facets which impact depression such as neurotransmitter imbalances, life events, and environmental factors
History of antidepressants, in terms of safety and efficacy of treatments
Classes of antidepressants – MAOIs, TCAs, SSRIs, SNRIs, SDRIs, other antidepressants, and serotonin modulators - Antipsychotics
Targeted neurotransmitters – DA, mechanism of action, DA pathways, D2 and 5Ht2A – why is this important?
Typical vs. atypical – what are the differences and how do we choose them?
Adverse effects
Off label indications
Specific benefits of the class - Mood Stabilizers
Targeted neurotransmitters/Mechanism of action
Efficacy in treatment
Adverse reactions
Safety – Importance of compliance and monitoring
Off label indications
Best in practice pearls - Anxiolytics
2nd line treatment vs. 1st line treatment – and reasons these might not be used as first line
Targeted neurotransmitters/Mechanism of action
Cautions and safety concerns associated with this class
Adverse effects
Safety – addiction and withdrawal - Stimulants
Classes of ADHD drugs and how they differ
Neurotransmitters involved/Mechanism of action
Caution associated with controlled substances
Safety in children and use in adults - Critical Considerations for Psychopharmacology Treatment
Increasing risk – when patients combine psychotropic medications with alcohol and/or illicit drugs
Challenging symptoms to treat, such as TBI and autism
Ruling out medical conditions that mimic psychiatric conditions
Importance of a detailed history and review of symptoms - Enlightening Case Studies
Depression
Schizophrenia
Bipolar
Target Audience
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Pharmacists Nurses
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Case Managers
Please see the full list of alternative group-buy courses available here: https://lunacourse.com/shop/
