In addition to highlighting emerging strategies in the assessment and treatment of major depression and bipolar illness, this online CME course defines approaches to mood and anxiety disorders, including psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy for depression and other psychotherapeutic approaches.

Assessment and Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: Integrating Psychopharmacology and Psychotherapy also addresses comorbid conditions such as Axis II personality disorders, management of patients with medical conditions, management of the geriatric patient, and more. It’s psychiatry CME that offers insight into:

• Issues around the choice of specific antidepressants, mood stabilizers and anti-anxiety medications
• Psychopharmacologic management of the treatment resistant patient
• Recent developments in neuropsychiatry, including brain imaging and therapeutic stimulation techniques
• Therapeutic efficacy and risks associated with ketamine administration
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders including skin-picking, trichotillomania and body dysmorphic
• Management of anxiety in patients vulnerable to abuse of alcohol
• And more…

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to:

• Evaluate emerging strategies in the use of psychotropic medications in the treatment of major depression and anxiety disorders and integrate psychopharmacologic treatments into psychotherapy strategies in treating depressed and anxious patents
• Describe strategies for the psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic management of treatment resistant depression
• Summarize the emerging role of ketamine in the treatment of major depression and suicidal behavior
• Explore the role of novel enhancements to treatment of mood disorders including omega 3 fatty acids, 1 methylfolate and zinc
• Discuss the role of electroconvulsive therapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in treatment resistant depressive disorders
• Examine new developments in the treatment of depression in bipolar patients with a focus on newer medications including lurasidone and cariprazine
• Identify an evidence-based approach to suicide risk assessment and prevention of suicide
• Appreciate the role of lithium carbonate in combination with other mood stabilizing agents
• Give examples of recent developments in psychotherapeutic approaches to treating Bipolar patients, including cognitive, behavioral and expressive psychotherapy techniques
• Integrate psychodynamic assessment, psychotherapy and psychopharmacology into management of depression and anxiety disorders
• Assess the role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders
• Compare recent developments in the implementation of CBT, including Commitment and Acceptance Therapy and inclusion of exposure therapy in CBT
• Report on the latest applications for computer- based treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders
• Describe new psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques in the treatment of PTSD including exposure and response prevention and virtual reality techniques utilized to treat PTSD secondary to exposure to combat
• Formulate an integrated psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic approach to personality-disordered patients in the borderline and severely narcissistic spectrum presenting with depression and anxiety
• Manage anxiety disorders in patients vulnerable to alcohol abuse and psychological dependence on marijuana, including the use of non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety agents such as pregabalin and buspirone
• Formulate strategies for treating patients with marijuana abuse disorder, including discussion of newly emerging psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques

Target Audience

This educational activity was designed for health professionals in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, counseling, medicine, pediatrics, and surgery.

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