Harvard Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2023

Neurobiology, Genetics and Psychotropic Treatment

• Updated review of neurobiology and brain function
• Neurotransmitter circuits, transmitters, and receptors
• Synaptic function and gene transcription
• Interaction between genes and environment
• Effects of neurotransmitters and genes on psychotropic drug treatment
• Interface between neurology and psychiatry
• Use of genetic tests and blood level measurements in treatment planning

Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

• Drug treatment of schizophrenia
• Prodromal symptoms and early intervention
• First episode psychosis treatment considerations
• Long-term maintenance strategies
• Treatment-resistant schizophrenia
• New antipsychotic medications
• Treatment augmentation and medication combinations

Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Treatment Resistance

• Emerging theories and treatments of bipolar disorder
• Neurobiological mechanisms of depression
• Genetic and epigenetic contributions to depression
• Role of inflammation in depression
• Treatment-resistant depression
• Bipolar depression
• Potential new uses for mood stabilizers

Advanced Depression Treatments

• Modern use of antidepressants based on current clinical findings
• Ketamine: benefits and risks
• ECT in treatment-resistant psychiatric illness
• TMS and neuromodulation strategies
• Psychedelics and emerging treatment directions
• Augmentation strategies for treatment-resistant depression
• Medication combinations for resistant psychiatric disorders

Anxiety, OCD, PTSD and Related Disorders

• Anxiety and anxiety-spectrum disorders
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• New concepts and treatments of obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Etiology and treatment of PTSD
• Emerging treatments for PTSD

Borderline Personality Disorder, Eating Disorders and Benzodiazepines

• Diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality disorder
• Pharmacological treatment of borderline personality disorder
• Eating disorder patients and medication-related considerations
• Risks and benefits of benzodiazepines
• Standard psychopharmacologic treatments shown to be ineffective
• Clinical decision-making in complex psychiatric patients

Women’s Mental Health

• Psychopharmacological treatment of women’s mental health issues
• PMS and premenstrual symptom management
• Medication considerations during pregnancy
• Medication considerations during nursing
• Perinatal and postpartum disorders
• Treatment-resistant PTSD in women’s mental health
• Balancing maternal mental health and medication safety

Sleep, Substance Use and Special Populations

• Neurobiology and treatment of sleep disorders in psychiatry
• Role of psychopharmacology in sleep disorder treatment
• Alcohol use disorders
• Opiate use disorders
• Cannabis and other substance use disorders
• Child and adolescent psychopharmacology
• Geriatric psychopharmacology updates and treatment challenges

Polypharmacy, Drug Interactions and Digital Tools

• Potential hazards and benefits of polypharmacy
• Drug interaction risks in psychopharmacology
• Use of blood levels and dosing strategies
• Innovative medication combinations in resistant psychiatric disorders
• Therapeutic alliance when prescribing psychotropic medications
• Digital phenotype tools in psychiatric disorder management
• Applying emerging tools to psychopharmacologic care

It is ideal for psychiatrists, psychopharmacology researchers, mental health clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, NPs, primary care physicians, specialty physicians, psychologists, PAs, psychiatry trainees, and clinicians involved in psychiatric medication management.

The course covers neurobiology, neurotransmitters, genetics, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, ketamine, ECT, TMS, psychedelics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, women’s mental health, sleep disorders, substance use disorders, child and adolescent psychopharmacology, geriatric psychopharmacology, polypharmacy, drug interactions, and digital phenotype tools.

Yes. The course focuses on practical psychopharmacology, difficult-to-treat patients, resistant psychiatric disorders, drug combinations, blood level measurements, medication risks, and clinical decision-making.

No. This course package does not include CME points.

You can contact us at support@getmedicalcourses.com.