Differential Diagnosis of Common Psychiatric-Mental Health Disorders
Daniel Wesemann, DNP, MSW, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Making psychiatric diagnoses can be overwhelming: Symptoms of common disorders often overlap, and differentiation is key for managing your patient’s condition effectively and compassionately. This session will empower you to sharpen your psychiatric-mental health differential diagnosis skills, using expert guidance and the most up-to-date information from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 th edition. This uniquely structured course is built around four challenging case studies and delves into each patient’s condition, allowing you to practice your new skills as you examine conditions from brief psychotic disorder to autism spectrum disorder. By the conclusion of the course, you will have renewed confidence and the knowledge you need to make the best care choices for your patients.
This presentation includes in-depth information on disorders of the following types:
- Personality and mood disorders
- Substance abuse disorders
- Anxiety, stress disorders, and trauma (e.g., signs of intimate partner violence)
- Pediatric behavioral disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Update on Depression, Bipolar, and Anxiety Pharmacotherapeutics
Lawrence Carey, PharmD
The appropriate diagnosis and treatment of mood and stress disorders is a challenging yet necessary skill set for the advanced nurse practitioner. This CE offering probes through individual case studies that depict the multifactorial presentations of depression and anxiety, along with an in-depth exploration into bipolar I and II disorders.
Each scenario offers a full analysis of the corresponding condition, helping you to construct the most accurate diagnosis and pharmacotherapeutic program for improving patient outcomes. By investing in this presentation, you will develop a greater ability to pinpoint your choice of medication regimens when choosing between a variety of drugs, such as antidepressants, first-and second-generation antipsychotics, and drugs that can be used off-label.
Other drug classes discussed in this session are as follows:
- Anticonvulsants
- Antimanics (i.e., lithium)
- Antianxiety medications
Psychotropic Drugs
Elizabeth Vande Waa, PhD
This talk discusses the latest developments in psychotropic drugs for the treatment of conditions ranging from psychosis to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The benefits and drawbacks of first- and second-generation antipsychotic drugs, including long-acting injectable formulas, are examined. The responsible prescribing of stimulants to patients with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD is also addressed. This session also features a rigorous examination of current trends in benzodiazepine use, with detailed guidance on how to avoid withdrawal syndromes.
This session includes information on the following topics:
- Causes and pharmacologic treatment of dementia
- Developments in the management of psychosis for pediatric and adolescent patients
- Monitoring for abuse in patients taking stimulants and gabapentinoids
- Updated treatment agents for insomnia and sleep disorders