Get Key Updates on Psychopharmacology at APA’s Annual Meeting

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APA’s 2018 Annual Meeting in New York City will offer numerous opportunities for attendees to brush up on their existing psychopharmacology acumen or gain new knowledge on psychotropic medications. Summaries of several courses and sessions, as well as a list of sessions on the topic of psychopharmacology are listed below. For more information on sessions, check out the Session Search Feature on APA’s website or download the APA Meeting app.

Workshops: New Treatment Algorithms for ADHD in Adults, Unipolar Nonpsychotic Depression

Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (ADHD)

Sunday, May 6, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (Depression)

The Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South Shore Program was initiated by David Ossler, M.D., in 1993 to be a repository for evidence-based, stepwise treatment recommendations for a range of psychiatric disorders. Any clinician can submit algorithm proposals into the repository so long as the recommendations are evidence-based and the algorithm has undergone peer review.

On Saturday, May 5, Ossler and his colleagues will discuss proper medications protocols for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who represent a growing clinical population. The discussion will include considerations for comorbid conditions of interest that may arise during adulthood, such as bipolar disorder. On Sunday, May 6, Ossler and colleagues will discuss an updated version of an algorithm for unipolar nonpsychotic depression, which was initially developed in 1998. The updated depression algorithm incorporates special considerations for depressed patients that require urgent inpatient care, as well as patients who present with atypical features.

For both sessions, the algorithm developers will present the reasoning justifying the recommended treatment sequence and preferred medications, and then provide time for attendees to discuss the algorithms.

Debate on Pharmacogenetic Testing: Does it Have a Role in Clinical Practice?

Sunday, May 6, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

What word might best describe the role of genetic tests to inform medication prescribing? Is it hope, hype, or perhaps something in between? This special presentation will feature two leading psychopharmacologists—Joseph Goldberg, M.D., of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Anil Malhotra, M.D., of the Feinstein Institute—who will debate the pros and cons of genetic profile testing. They will explore a range of issues and take questions from the audience. Pharmacogenetics has become a buzzword in psychiatry, and the goal of this session is to help guide clinicians through the morass of data and opinions on this subject.

Symposium: Clinical Considerations from the APA Council on Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Workgroupon QTc Prolongation and Psychotropic Medications

Sunday, May 6, 1 p.m.-4 p.m

Several psychiatric medications come with a risk of increasing the heart’s QT interval, which can lead to irregular heart rhythms and potentially cardiac arrest; however, there is a lack of clinical guidance on best practices for prescribing QTc-prolonging medications and monitoring patients.

The APA Council on Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology, convened an expert work group in late 2016 to review the current literature and create a set of clinical considerations for the practicing clinician.

During this symposium, members of the work group will provide an overview of the group’s findings as well as information on the QTc risks of various medication classes and when psychiatrists should request a cardiology consult. Attendees will be encouraged to test their knowledge on QTc risks during several clinical case evaluations.

Symposium: Update on Managing the Adverse Effects of Psychotropic Drugs

Monday, May 7, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.

The side effects of psychotropic drugs continue to pose significant obstacles for clinicians and patients. Rather than avoiding otherwise efficacious medications that could potentially cause formidable side effects, new technologies are making it possible for clinicians and patients to better anticipate adverse effects and make more informed treatment decisions based on these predictions. This symposium will address both general and specific key issues in the contemporary management of adverse drug effects, with a focus on patient-centered care.

Master Course: Essential Psychopharmacology

Tuesday, May 8, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

This APA master course will cover the latest information on the pharmacological treatment of several major psychiatric disorders. Topics of discussion will include recent advances in the pharmacogenetics of antidepressant response, how to select medications for bipolar disorder, and the benefits and side effects of antipsychotic medications. This interactive course will be led by Alan Schatzberg, M.D., the Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.

Participants who take this course are eligible to participate in two extra credit maintenance of certification (MOC) activities related to the course. These activities are a Performance in Practice chart review (MOC Part 4) and a Psychopharmacology Self-Assessment (MOC Part 2). 

Please note: this special session requires advance registration and an additional registration fee. Rates for APA members/nonmembers are $380/$480 early bird; $410/$510 advance; $440/$540 onsite. Course Code: M8084

Workshop: Informed Consent Dialogues: How to Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk

Wednesday, May 9, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Most psychiatrists understand the importance of achieving informed consent when having a dialogue with their patient about treatment options. It’s much less common for psychiatrists to know the full breadth of information that should be brought up during a patient discussion or how to modify the conversation when needed.

The leaders of this interactive workshop will highlight the often-subtle differences that separate good versus inadequate dialogues by acting out live snippets of a dialogue between a psychiatrist and a patient with depression. The audience will have an opportunity to critique each snippet and identify any problems. The workshop attendees will then be tasked with developing and refining their own conversations for special situations such as advising on the use of benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for a young woman of child-bearing age. ■