Course Summary
Expiration Date: 11/30/2027
Psychopharmacology is a dynamic and evolving field that requires continuous research and clinical expertise among healthcare providers. Rooted in an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the brain and nervous system, psychopharmacology forms a cornerstone of modern psychiatric treatment. Advances in research and pharmaceutical innovation are driving the development of new medications and more effective, tailored treatment strategies for mental health disorders. Clinical practice is guided by professional and regulatory standards that support evidence-based guidelines, ensuring that healthcare providers deliver safe, ethical, and legally compliant care.
Course Format
Homestudy
Course Syllabus
- Introduction
- Antipsychotics
- Medication Tapering and Patient Education
- Drug Interactions
- Classification
- Clozapine – Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia
- Antidepressants
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Noradrenergic/Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants (NaSSAs)
- Serotonin Modulators and Stimulators (SMS)
- Serotonin Antagonists and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs)
- Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs)
- Ketamine
- Key Points: Current Recommendations for Antidepressant Use
- Anxiolytics
- Benzodiazepines
- Buspirone
- Beta-Blockers
- Antihistaminergic and Antiemetic Agents
- Key Points: Current Recommendations for Anxiety Treatment
- Mood Stabilizers
- Lithium
- Valproic Acid (Divalproex Sodium)
- Lamotrigine
- Other Mood Stabilizing Agents
- Atypical Antipsychotics
- Key Points: Current Recommendations for Bipolar Disorder Treatment
- Stimulants and Non-Stimulants
- Amphetamine-Based Stimulants
- Methylphenidate-Based Stimulants
- Non-Stimulant Options
- Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonists
- Key Points: Current Recommendations for ADHD and Narcolepsy
- Sedative/Hypnotic Agents
- Benzodiazepine Hypnotics
- Non-Benzodiazepine “Z-Drugs”
- Melatonin Receptor Agonists
- Orexin Receptor Antagonists
- Antidepressants with Sedative Properties
- Antihistamines (Over-the-Counter)
- Key Points: Current Recommendations for Insomnia
- Herbal and Over-the-Counter Supplements in Psychiatry
- St. John’s Wort
- Valerian
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
- Key Points: Clinical Guidance on Herbal and OTC Supplements
- Individualized Antipsychotic Selection
- Optimizing Mood Stabilizer Selection
- Limit Duration of Benzodiazepine and Z-Drug Use
- Enhancing Patient Outcomes
- Interprofessional Collaboration
- Summary
Authors
Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS
Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.
Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh
Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.