Please note: This is the general version of the course: Schizophrenia: Diagnosis and Treatment N455B. No pharmacology credits will be earned. Click here to take the pharmacology version.

Course Summary

Expiration Date: 06/29/2028

Schizophrenia is a chronic, lifelong condition with both positive and negative symptoms. The DSM-5-TR provides evidence-based criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia. An accurate diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan are essential for health teams to help people with schizophrenia achieve quality of life. Treatment includes medication (typical and atypical antipsychotics) and lifestyle changes. Antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia treatment are discussed relative to drug use, dosing, and potential side effects. Understanding metabolic side effects and treatment guidelines is important for clinicians to understand. Case studies are presented to highlight key aspects of diagnosis and treatment for all interprofessional team members.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Schizophrenia Pathophysiology and Symptoms
    • Theories of Pathophysiology and Brain Dysfunction
    • Phases of Schizophrenia, Risk Factors, and Subtypes
    • DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Criteria
  • Treatment: First-generation and Second-generation Antipsychotics
    • Case Example: Clozapine-induced Hyperglycemia
    • Second-generation Antipsychotics
    • Clozapine
    • Risperidone
    • Paliperidone
    • Olanzapine
    • Aripiprazole
    • Quetiapine
    • Ziprasidone
    • Asenapine
    • Iloperidone
    • Lurasidone
    • Cariprazine
    • Brexpiprazole
    • Lumateperone
    • Pimavanserin
    • Monitoring Commonly Used Second-Generation Antipsychotics
  • Case Study: Schizophrenia Remission of Symptoms
  • Summary

Authors

Allison Russo, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Allison Russo has been working in the field of psychiatry since 2009. She has enjoyed experience working in outpatient, forensics, residential and acute care settings. She has had the honor of treating Sailors across the United States and the world, serving in the Navy Reserve, since 2013. She enjoys working with clients across the lifespan. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009 and Master of Nursing in 2013 at Montana State University. She obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of North Dakota in 2016. She is passionate about collaborating with families to provide support and solve complex problems. She is excited about the use of technology, and happy to use it, to improve access to mental health care.  In her off time, she can generally be found working on a remodeling project, traveling, or at the local Crossfit gym. She loves spending time with her husband, her 5 year dog, and her son.

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.