Harvard Psychopharmacology 2024: A Master Class
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We are pleased to offer our 14th annual two-day Master Class uniquely designed for practicing clinicians, clinical researchers and trainees in psychiatry. Presentations will focus on typical psychiatric patients with emphasis on those who are difficult to treat or are treatment resistant. Newer treatments and developing treatment strategies will be discussed including the use of genetic tests, blood level measurements and drug combinations. New research that can inform clinical practice will be emphasized. There will be considerable opportunity for interaction with the presenters.
This conference will focus on the following topics: An updated review of neurobiology and brain function taking the attendee through neurotransmission sequence from the central role of neurotransmitter circuits, transmitters and receptors, synaptic function gene transcription, and interaction between genes and the environment. Drug treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder will be presented with a focus on prodromal symptoms and first episode patients, as well as long-term maintenance and treatment resistant patients.
New antipsychotic medications and treatment augmentation will be reviewed along with potential new uses for mood stabilizers. Neurobiological mechanisms of depression with a discussion of both the genetic and epigenetic contribution and the role of inflammation will be highlighted. Modern use of antidepressants will be based on the latest clinical findings. Special consideration will be given to ketamine, ECT, TMS, psychedelics, and augmentation strategies for treatment resistant depression and bipolar depression.
Diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and anxiety-spectrum disorders as well as their pharmacological treatment will be presented, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, along with recent data regarding the risks and benefits of benzodiazepines. The etiology and standard pharmacological treatment of PTSD will be discussed including the new use of ketamine and psychedelics in a separate presentation.
The evaluation and psychopharmacological treatment of women’s mental health issues will be updated with particular emphasis on PMS, perinatal, and postpartum disorders. The course will also include a review of the neurobiology and treatment of sleep disorders in psychiatry as well as a lecture on the neurobiology and treatment of alcohol, cannabis and other substance abuse disorders. Basic neurobiological and pharmacological factors in the treatment of autism and latest advances in geriatric psychopharmacology will be reviewed.
The latest advances in the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of autism spectrum disorders will be presented for the first time in this Master Class series.
Throughout the course both the establishment and importance of the therapeutic alliance when prescribing all psychotropic medications as well as new neurobiological research findings that will influence clinical practice.
Who Should Attend
- Pharmacists
- Nurse Practitioners
- Primary Care Physicians
- Specialty Physicians
- Psychologists
- Physician Assistants
- Nurses
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Evaluate the effects of neurotransmitters, neurocircuits, and genes on psychotropic drug treatment.
- 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 disorders as well as autistic spectrum disorders.
- Identify the benefits and risks of ketamine and psychedelics, including use for PTSD.
- Discuss the role of psychotropic medications in women’s mental health with an emphasis on PMS, pregnancy, nursing, and the postpartum period.
- Explain the role of psychopharmacology in the treatment of substance use disorders with particular emphasis on alcohol, opiates, and cannabis.
- Give examples of the latest advances and problems associated with treatment approaches in the geriatric populations.
- Discuss the application of digital phenotype tools in the psychopharmacologic management of psychiatric disorders
2024 Agenda
Friday, March 22, 2024
Registration
Welcome Remarks
Carl Salzman, MD; Matcheri Keshavan, MD; Roscoe Brady, MD
Update on the Neurobiology for the Practicing Clinician: Understanding Brain Function and its Clinical Relevance
Matcheri Keshavan, MD
Treatment-Resistant Depression: Update on New Antidepressants, Polypharmacy, Augmentation Strategies, Ketamine, Psychedelics, and ECT
Alan Schatzberg, MD
Treatment of Bipolar Disorders; Neurobiology and Clinical Directions; Revival of Lithium
Roscoe Brady, MD
Coffee Break
Treatment for Schizophrenia: Prodrome First Episode, Relapse and New Treatment Possibilities
Matcheri Keshavan, MD
Psychopharmacologic Approaches in Autism
Jean Frazier, MD
Panel Discussion #1
Roscoe Brady, MD; Matcheri Keshavan, MD; Alan Schatzberg, MD; Jean Frazier, MD
Lunch
Clinical Relevance of Brain Circuity for Psychiatric Treatment
Roscoe Brady, MD
Clinical Relevance of Brain Inflammation
Paulo Lizano, MD, PhD
Coffee Break
Therapeutic Approaches to the Difficult Patient
Stephen Stahl, MD, PhD, DSc (Hon)
Panel Discussion #2
Roscoe Brady, MD; Paulo Lizano, MD, PhD; Stephen Stahl, MD, PhD, DSc (Hon)
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Treatment of Anxiety Spectrum Disorders, and PTSD, New Benzodiazepine Data
Carl Salzman, MD
Neurobiology and Treatment of Sleep in Psychiatric Disorders
John Winkelman, MD; Tony Cunningham, PhD
Coffee Break
Update: Digital Phenotyping in Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology; Role of AI?
John Torous, MD, MBI
Clinical Use for Psychedelics? Use for PTSD?
Ryan Henner, MD
Panel Discussion #1
Carl Salzman, MD; John Torous, MD, MBI; John Winkelman, MD; Ryan Henner, MD; Tony Cunningham, PhD
Lunch
Update: Effective Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
Kevin Hill, MD
Update: The Psychopharmacology of the Reproductive Life Cycle: Premenstrual, Pregnancy, Lactation, and Menopause
Catherine Lager, MD, MA, MS; Elizabeth Greenwald, MD, MSc
Coffee Break
Update: Geriatrics Psychopharmacology. Treatment for Alzheimer’s?
Carl Salzman, MD
Panel Discussion #2
Carl Salzman, MD; Catherine Lager, MD, MA, MS; Elizabeth Greenwald, MD, MSc; Kevin Hill, MD
Wrap-Up, Last Questions
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